No.6 Squadron Embarks For Sea Training

OH-07-0350-10-tn.jpg: A Seasprite transferring ammunition while on recent exercise in Jervis Bay, Australia.

SQNLDR Owen Rodger, FLTLT Will Neill, MACR Ash Wilson and POHCM Karl Borck embarked in TE MANA for the 12 day passage in company with HMNZS ENDEAVOUR, when the Task Group’s primary focus was aviation training.

The desired outcome from this period sounds simple:

• The qualification of one pilot and one helicopter crewman in embarked operations.

Secondary outcomes were:

• The training of two helo winch-persons aboard TE MANA,
• Continuation training for the flight deck crew of ENDEAVOUR, and
• Finalization of processes to be used for Night Vision Goggle (NVG) deck operations.

This training is essential to the Navy to ensure that No.6 Sqn can provide adequate numbers of trained aircrew to fly the SH-2G(NZ) Seasprite helicopters from our frigates. Our first week of flying saw 13 sorties flown by day and night:

• Deck Landing Practices (DLPs)
• Helicopter In-Flight Refuelling (HIFR)
• Winching and Winch person training
• Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP)
• Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW)
• Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and 
• A Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX).

One of the successes of the week was proving the ability to carry out concurrent activities while the ship was refuelling via a Refuelling At Sea (RAS) (L) with ENDEAVOUR. During the RAS, the Seasprite conducted winching and VERTREP operations to ENDEAVOUR, with vital food supplies being transferred to TE MANA, much to the joy of our sailors who had been missing their favourite kiwi foods!

Week Two saw more of the same, culminating in the final check flights for the No.6 Squadron aviators. In the tropical seas many on board volunteered to act as ‘survivors’ so that sea rescue could be practiced by the aircrew, winchpersons and boat crews of TE MANA.

Overall, 30.9 hours were flown during the two week period and all intended training was completed.

• The RNZN now has another pilot and helicopter crewman ready to embark as required.
• TE MANA has her full complement of two qualified winch persons.
• ENDEAVOUR’s deck party have completed readiness assessment continuation training requirements .
• TE MANA’s regular flight crew carried out currency sorties to ensure they were prepared for Exercises Lion Zeal and Bersama Shield.

The ability to fly that many hours in such a short period, showed the professionalism and dynamic ability of the crews of TE MANA and ENDEAVOUR.

With all of the flying completed, TE MANA’s Flight Commander took the opportunity to gather personnel for an Aviation Forum, with personnel from the Bridge Team, Operations, aircrew, maintainers and FDO’s gathered to discuss standardization of flying operations while embarked. This was a great opportunity to bring up points of experience during the past three months and discuss them with the instructors from No.6 Squadron.