More muscle

Australian Aviation recently spoke with the Commanding Officer of 36SQN, WGCDR Paul Long, who flew the aircraft on its delivery flight from Boeing’s Long Beach facility.

Then, There Were Five

The decision to procure a sixth C-17 was flagged by Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare in a joint press release on March 19. Citing the aircraft’s ability to reach and respond to domestic and regional crises such as the Victorian floods, the Japanese tsunami and earthquake in New Zealand, the ministers stated an additional C-17 had the operational benefit of doubling the number of C-17A aircraft available for operations at any one time from two to four.

The joint statement noted: “A sixth C-17 will give the government increased options to support a wider range of contingencies that might require heavy-lift aircraft and will extend the life of the C-17 fleet by reducing the use of each aircraft.”

To that end Minister Smith made a formal request to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which resulted in Australia signing a foreign military sale agreement with the US government in June 2012. The associated budget request stated: “The acquisition of a C-17A from the current United States Air Force production line provides the opportunity, within a short timeframe, to increase the airlift capability supporting Australian Forces in Afghanistan and the Middle East. It will also enhance Australia’s capacity to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief within Australia and the region. Costs will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of Defence.’

Turning The Key

A41-210 was handed over to the Commonwealth at a ceremony at the C-17 final assembly plant at Long Beach on November 1. In attendance were a small group of dignitaries including Chief of Air Force AIRMSHL Geoff Brown as well as the aircraft’s crew for the ferry flight to Australia, one of them – WGCDR Paul Long – who was making his second C-17 delivery flight.

As WGCDR Long explained: “Straight after the ceremony my crew and I went into the aircraft and got it ready for departure while the official party went off and had a luncheon. When they came out we took off and did a 500ft flypast for all the Boeing workers and CAF, and then departed to McChord AFB in Seattle, where we got some secure comms installed.”

The next day, WGCDR Long and his crew departed with his squadron’s new aircraft carrying 20,000 kg of cargo. It arrived at Hickam AFB in Hawaii where it picked up 43 passengers.

“As soon as we get the key, we’re utilised,” said WGCDR Long who explained what an additional airframe would mean to 36SQN’s ability to complete its mission. ”A sixth aircraft comes with an increased rate of effort. A fleet of four is mainly bare bones with one in maintenance and one in servicing, you haven’t got many options open to you. Five was the next step. What six gives you is more assuredness of the mission and flexibility as well. When you have one in a heavy maintenance cycle, one down for its periodic cycle, you’ve still got capability to complete the mission that we’re asked to do.”

The hectic pace of C-17 operations has also meant having all five aircraft at one time on the 36SQN ramp is a rare occurrence. WGCDR Long anticipates it will be some time before all six are gracing an Amberley hardstand. “At the moment we’re in the middle of a maintenance cycle so we won’t see all six at Amberley for a while. The first time we had all five at Amberley occurred in June this year and that took from September last year from when we took delivery of A41-210. With our maintenance cycle now, we won’t we see all six here until third quarter next year.”

Flypast

At press time, preparations were underway to celebrate the arrival of the squadron’s sixth aircraft with a flypast of C-17s over Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Aircrew are in the midst of planning for the display, working on separation times and liaising with Airservices while at the same time undertaking no practice flights as aircraft are assigned to operations. As WGCDR Long explains, the C-17 is unseating the PC-9 as the preferred mount of the Roulettes.

“It’s a formation you have when you’re not having a formation. It’s four aircraft and we’re attempting to do it with a three nautical mile trail. We’re responsible for our own separation under something called MARSA-Military Assumes Responsibility for Aircraft. So you’re not quite a formation and you’re treated independently by ATC. So we’ll be close enough in a big aeroplane like this to create a bit of an effect.”

Business As Usual

While remaining coy on how the arrival of a sixth C-17 would impact on the squadron’s training load, WGCDR Long did reveal the squadron was sufficiently capable to absorb another aircraft.

“The C-17 is extremely capable and the beauty is that we bought a system that is proven and supported. We piggyback off the global fleet and the USAF are fleet leaders in what happens so we’re pretty well on top of everything that’s required.”

Missions flown to Afghanistan have seen the delivery of over 700 tonnes of supplies to Australian forces. The completion of Operation Slipper in 2013 will, however, not greatly alter the tempo of operations undertaken by 36SQN. “There’s always cargo to be moved, ops, ex’s, going all the time, so whether or not we’re deployed to Afghanistan or elsewhere, there’ll always be something for us to do.”

And despite the arrival of the KC-30, likewise operated by Air Lift Group and based at Amberley, WGCDR Long does not see the C-17 mission expanding to include airborne refuelling, stating: “It’s a downtrack capability that we’re still forming ideas on. It’s not something I’m worrying about at this time. At the moment, for the mission we’re doing, lack of AAR is not proving limiting.”

WGCDR Long could not be drawn on whether the acquisition of a seventh C-17 was being contemplated, but given the current climate of defence expenditure in Australia, short-term prospects of another Globemaster joining 36SQN seem remote.