MEDIA RELEASE
4 November 2008
For immediate release
AUSTRALIAN ARMY HELICOPTERS COMMENCE COMBINED TRAINING ACTIVITIES WITH PNG DEFENCE FORCE
Tomorrow, four Australian Army Blackhawk helicopters will commence combined training activities with the PNG Defence Force as part of Exercise HELICON LUK 2008.
The exercise, which includes 86 Australian Army aviators and 5 PNGDF aviators, will be based in Madang Province. It will test PNG and Australian aviation skills in the challenging terrain around Mt Hagen, Mendi, Goroka and Madang. Later this month, the helicopters will move to Port Moresby to conduct airmobile activities in support of a PNGDF infantry training exercise on the eastern outskirts of the National Capital District.
Exercise HELICON LUK 2008 will help Australian Army helicopter pilots maintain their flying skills and build links between Australian and PNG Defence Force aviators, which have proven essential during recent humanitarian assistance operations.
The Head of Australian Defence Staff at the Australian High Commission, Colonel Luke Foster, said: “The Australian Defence Force is pleased to again be working alongside our PNG counterparts for Exercise Helicon Luk 2008. The skills learned during the exercise are valuable training in case Australia is required to provide helicopter assistance in PNG in times of natural disasters.”
The PNG Defence Force and Australian Defence Force have a long history of working together in the field of aviation. The Royal Australian Air Force trained the PNG Defence Force’s first pilots on the Dakota transport aircraft in the late 1970s.
More recently, PNG and Australian aviators and support crew have worked together on humanitarian operations during the Southern Highlands famine in 1997 and 1998, the 1998 tsunami near Aitape, and last year during the Oro floods disaster.
Residents in Western Highlands, Southern Highlands, Simbu and Eastern Highlands provinces can expect to see these helicopters flying during daylight hours throughout the period 7-22 November. In addition, residents in Western Province, the Highlands Provinces and Morobe Province can expect to see the Blackhawk helicopters on 6 November as they make their way to Madang. Residents of Madang, Morobe, Oro and Central Province also can expect to see the helicopters on 23 November when they fly from Madang to Port Moresby. The helicopters will again be visible above the National Capital District and surrounding areas of Central Province on 23 and 24 November.
The Australian High Commission and the Australian Defence Force recognises that some PNG residents may be concerned if they observe these military helicopter flights without prior notification. These activities are occurring with the full knowledge and support of PNG authorities.
Assistance is therefore sought from PNG media organisations in notifying the public of these training activities.
Media Inquiries: Francina Thomson, Public Diplomacy Officer, T: 325 9333 ext 276