The French Connection
Exercise Para Brevet 10
By CPL John Harrison, PTSU, Parachute Jump Instructor
Leap of joy
From 7–14 May 2010, the Parachute Training and Support Unit (PTSU) at Base Auckland played host to 35 French Parachute Instructors, Jumpmasters and Paratroopers from New Caledonia for Exercise Para Brevet 10.
The aim of the exercise was a reciprocal exchange of low level round parachute conversion qualifications, and to enhance interoperability between the two nations during times of crisis in our mutual area of interest and responsibility—the South Pacific.
The Exercise started with PTSU staff and Defence Force Basic Static Line qualified personnel receiving familiarisation and pre jump ground training for the French low level round parachute—the TAP 696-26—with the help of an interpreter.
The French parachute is a non-steerable, 28 ft diameter canopy made of ripstop nylon with a descent rate of 20 feet per second (fps). The TAP 696-26 is significantly smaller but quicker than our current low level round parachute, the SF10A, which is a steerable 32ft diameter canopy made of F-111 ripstop nylon with a rate of descent of 8-12 fps.
Line of comrades
During the first phase of the exercise, personnel completed two descents from the French CASA 235, the first from a single door and then simultaneous (both port and starboard doors) at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Auckland.
During the next phase, Sergeant Rick Wadmore and I successfully conducted the familiarisation and pre-jump ground training for the French Paratroopers jumping the SF10A—with a great deal of assistance from our interpreters. Fortunately, the weather cleared enough on Thursday 13 May to allow all elements of parachuting to take place, including static line and freefall, from an RNZAF C-130. The French paratroopers conducted two static line sorties with Flight Lieutenant Paul White and I despatching a total of 64 French personnel, including Brigadier Olivier Tramond, the French Defence Minister for New Caledonia. Subsequently, the French Paratroopers now hold the New Zealand SF10A in high regard due to its manoeuvrability and slower rate of descent. The French Paratroopers always exit an Aircraft via the port and starboard doors and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to exit a C-130 from the ramp for the first time.
During the Exercise, French and PTSU personnel conducted multiple free fall descents from the CASA 235, when the weather exceeded the wind limits for low level parachuting. This included tandem, flag and relative work, as well as training for PTSU’s Parachute Jump Instructors.
The mighty Herc
Brigadier Tramond also completed a tandem parachute descent with Officer Commanding PTSU, Squadron Leader Darryn Pritchard.
The final afternoon concluded with the giving and receiving of respective nation’s parachute wings. For many parachutists, receiving parachute wings is a very proud moment as they are not worn by many and indicate that you are now a member of the elite airborne fraternity.
Despite the obvious language barriers and the fact that we were all jumping with foreign equipment, we all learned heaps. Many thanks must go to our RNZAF colleagues—Allison Gardner of the Education Flight, and AC Rebecca Charteris from Auckland Photographic Section—for their invaluable assistance in their roles as interpreters.
Exercise Para Brevet was a complete success from start to finish, with all objectives achieved.