Air Force Pilots take on Southern Mountains

The mountains around Saint Arnaud were buzzing with activity over the week of 6-11 August as RNZAF helicopter crews embarked on Exercise Blackbird.

The mountain flying exercise was run out of RNZAF Base Woodbourne this year and involved four Iroquois helicopters and more than 30 personnel.

The helicopters and crews conducted daily flights to test their skills in a low-visibility, high-wind mountain environment.

Iroquois pilot FLTLT Neal Crawford said the exercise helped pilots and crews maintain the skills for search and rescue operations or overseas deployments in mountainous terrain.

‘When you are flying in the mountains the wind swirls around peaks, dumps over ridge lines and funnels through gullies. It’s much more challenging than flying over an open field or over the ocean.’

The uneven terrain also makes landing more difficult and the snow provides additional challenges when reading the radar, he said.

Exercise Blackbird is held annually and is either based out of RNZAF Base Woodbourne or Tekapo Army Camp.