Beneath the radar

Political tensions are high in the region and the United Nation’s mandate has called upon the RAN to provide a secure perimeter beyond the borders of the threatened countries. The Australian Task Group is all that stands in the way when a potential threat is detected in the waters to the north.

On the deck of HMAS Sydney a lone S70B-2 ‘Seahawk’ lifts from the pitching, rolling deck and heads towards the lurking menace beneath the waves. On board the helicopter a crew of three works as one to hone in on the target that is continuing to track towards the task force. In the front left seat the tactical officer – or TACCO – liaises with HMAS Sydney and directs the pilot into the hostile area where a series of sonar buoys are dropped in a specific pattern in an attempt to triangulate the position of the submarine.

The first buoy measures the temperature, solidity and pressure of the water and sets a base-line while the subsequent active buoys look for the intruder. All the while, back in the cabin, the sensor operator scans his screen looking for the tell-tale acoustic signs of the submarine and it’s not long before he has a hot contact. The level of chatter increases within the crew and in turn with the bridge of the Sydney, where the ultimate decisions will be made. The TACCO plots a tighter course while the SENSO gleans more and more vital identifying information from the ragged lines on his gleaming green screen.

The target is identified as an enemy submarine and in keeping with the Rules of Engagement, two warning drops are made, but there is no response from the aggressor. The order is given from the Sydney and an attack is made on the hostile submarine, halting it in its tracks. No sooner than the Seahawk has completed its mission than another surface target is detected further to the north.

The TACCO gives the pilot a course to steer as he heads off towards the new threat at a mere 200 feet above the waves. Meanwhile the SENSO is switching his priorities from acoustic sensing to visual acquisition using the forward-looking infra-ed (FLIR) system mounted on the Seahawk’s nose. Minutes later he sights the vessel on his screen and indentifies it as enemy craft.

Now the hunter becomes the hunted as the ship launches a salvo of missiles towards the Seahawk. The helicopter wheels to the right and heads down to the waves where the missiles lose its profile amongst the clutter of radar returns from the ocean’s surface. The business of destroying the enemy now lies with the firepower of the task force and a concentrated missile attack completes the mission. The Seahawk returns to the area to assess the battle damage before turning back towards the Sydney and landing on its pitching decks.

“The hunter becomes the hunted as the ship launches a salvo of missiles towards the Seahawk.”

This was a simulation. However, the realism of the simulator and the proficiency of the crew very quickly drew me into the scenario as if it were real. And what I saw first-hand was how a single helicopter can greatly increase the reach of a naval task force and provide a crucial source of eyes, ears and protection. To attain this level of crew proficiency is a challenging exercise and one that is constantly underway at HMAS Albatross, located at Nowra on the New South Wales south coast.

The tiger’s den

The huge face of a Bengal tiger adorns the wall amid rows of framed photographs as I make my way through the halls of 816 Squadron’s headquarters. Commander Grant O’Loughlan is the commanding officer and it was one of his crews that I watched ply their trade in the simulator. It was an impressive performance of crew co-ordination at the highest level and the more I discuss this with O’Loughlan, the more evident it becomes that naval aviation calls for a diverse, but almost unique, skill set.

Fundamentally, each member of a Seahawk crew is trained extensively from day one towards the goal of being delivered as an operationally-ready crew to a naval vessel. What this calls for is a very high level of competency and independence because once the crew arrives on board, they can be sent to the other side of the planet for six to nine months, far away from the usual fall-backs associated with a home base.

This team of 16 that is delivered to the ship consists of six air crew and 10 maintenance staff, and together they provide the aviation lifeline for that vessel. On service in the Middle East gulf since 1991, the crews of 816 Squadron are far from home and called on to be very self-reliant. The support back at Nowra is always there if needed, but in day-to-day operations they are required to be a cohesive crew operating independently.

It is this geography that O’Loughlan cites as often leading to the Fleet Air Arm’s anonymity. Despite a raft of roles, the majority of operations are offshore and away from the usual media attention. Occasionally a rescue effort for an ocean-going yachtsman may make the news, but the majority of their tasks fly beneath the radar.

And it is quite a range. There is natural disaster relief, medical evacuations, anti-piracy, anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel operations just to name a few. Still, in 2008 when the specially-marked Seahawk lowered its tiger-striped form onto the ground at the NRL Grand Final, the commentators described it as an Army Blackhawk.

Central to the success of his crews is a substantial training process before they finally take to the seas as a qualified crew. It is an important element of the squadron’s success, recognised by the fact that a dedicated training unit, 725 Squadron, will be established for the implementation of the new MH-60R Seahawk. Furthermore, all defence helicopter training will become centralised at HMAS Albatross alongside the operational squadrons. Add to this the work of 808 Squadron with its new MRH 90 helicopter, 723 Squadron with its Bell 429s and irrepressible AS350BA Squirrels, and on the waves the launch of the Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships is set for 2014.

It is an incredibly dynamic period for naval aviation, underpinned by the crews that maintain and operate the aircraft.

Teamwork

The Seahawk’s crew of pilot, TACCO and SENSO is an expert demonstration in crew co-ordination. Each member has a very specific role, however, in order to execute that duty efficiently they must also possess a keen understanding of the other roles. They must know when to speak and when to pause amidst an incredibly busy environment. Additionally, in the simulator I witnessed a high level of self-discipline by all the crew being exercised to maintain their defined roles and constantly revise their situational awareness as both individuals and as a team.

Central to the crew is the aviation warfare officer (AvWO). Operating on board the Seahawk, the AvWO fills the role of TACCO and is the mission commander responsible for the tactical employment of weapon and sensor systems, tactical communications, navigation and cockpit duties.

Following my simulator experience, I discuss the role with Lieutenant Chris Starling who is under training as an AvWO and it is apparent that multi-tasking and situational awareness are critical qualities. Mild-mannered, Starling is quick to highlight that he sees the safety of his helicopter and his ship at the forefront of his duties and cannot emphasise the importance of his other crew-members enough. Interestingly, as the Seahawk is flown single-pilot, the AvWo is also trained to back the pilot up to ensure the safety of the crew and the aircraft.

Petty Officer ‘Mac’ McCallum followed the usual career path and was recruited from within the naval ranks to become a SENSO. Now he has served actively abroad in a role that calls for him to gather and interpret information from the myriad of sources carried by the Seahawk. Armed with that information, it must be translated and relayed to the crew in a concise and timely manner so that the TACCO can draw up and maintain a plan in a very dynamic setting.

For surface vessels the SENSO relies heavily upon radar and FLIR, while submarines call for the focus to fall on acoustics. The signals Mac receives can be cross-matched with known acoustic profiles to positively identify a craft by sound. That being said, the information is relayed with an appropriate classification as to the level of confidence in the identification.

Responding to this data and the plan drafted by the TACCO is the pilot. Lieutenant Matt Danks is one such individual whose job it is to steer the Seahawk above the waves and deliver it safely back onto the deck of the ship. Like his counterparts, his language is very measured and always in the context of the crew. He appreciates the intense workload that can fall on his crew-mates and realises it is critical he maintains an awareness of the big picture as he flies the helicopter. While the rest of the crew may be ‘head down’ with their various duties, there is a need for the pilot to retain an overall situational awareness.

“The signals… can be cross-matched with known acoustic profiles to positively identify a craft by sound.”

Maintaining a level of vigilance and look-out for unknown contacts and a constant appreciation of the Seahawk’s fuel status are important tasks aside from flying the complex machine. Furthermore, the pilot must resist the temptation to get drawn deeply into the tactical situation that is developing as this may compromise the prime role of flying the helicopter. Once again, the theme resonates that these are highly trained individuals operating within a complex team situation.

On duty

The walls of the briefing room are adorned with maps of far-flung places and silhouettes of surface vessels. The rows of seats are filled with crews dressed in their green flight suits and dark brown leather jackets. In the front sits the commanding officer and his executive officer – or XO. A daily briefing of the meteorological situation, planned operations, current NOTAMS and other relevant information is followed by another detailed briefing of our individual sortie.

The pilot, Lieutenant Leigh George, briefs the every aspect possible of our Seahawk flight as “Tiger 80”. It is to be a complex flight, departing in company with a Bell 429 for an air-to-air photo session before heading further out to sea to disperse some flares and then firing the door-mounted 12.5mm machine gun. Throughout the briefing notes are jotted down by the crews and questions asked of George until no stone is seemingly left unturned.

As the crew make their way to the tarmac, I make a diversion to be fitted and equipped with a helmet and life vest. With the machine-gun fitted to the Seahawk’s open door, Starling kindly loans me his leather jacket, emblazoned with his ringed epaulettes and the Tiger crest of 816 Squadron. Helmet in hand, I can’t help but feeling that perhaps I missed my true calling.

On the tarmac the Seahawk is being busily prepared with the TACCO, Lieutenant Geoff Winter inspecting the rotor head and the SENSO, Chief Petty Officer Ben Sime, attending to the machine gun. Sime is a man of few words but possesses an understated air of absolute competence. I am not surprised when I’m informed he was awarded the Medal of Gallantry for his actions following a terrorist attack in 2004 while deployed to the Persian Gulf.

Winter shows me around the Seahawk, highlighting the various features from the FLIR to flares and the huge fuel tanks that afford the Seahawk its extended range. Despite the age of the helicopter and the nature of its operating environment, I am impressed with its appearance. It is yet another testimony to the crews, both in the air and on the ground.

Sime briefs me on my actions in the event of an emergency before seating me near the radar screen that is the SENSO’s domain. Meanwhile he straps in behind the pilot and after a series of checks the Seahawk’s turbines begin to whine and we are underway.

The Bell 429 awaits our departure as we enter the hover above the threshold of Runway 26 before accelerating and climbing away from Albatross. It is mid-afternoon as the Bell 429 forms up on our port side and photographs the Seahawk as the coastline slips beneath us. I listen to the chatter between the TACCO and the pilot on this training sortie and the language is still clipped and efficient, verifying active restricted areas and assessing the weather and fuel status.

When the other helicopter peels away, the three crew members run through their drills before firing the flares from the Seahawks flanks. The flares serve as a counter-measure against potential missile attacks and are launched from the aft fuselage section on either side. Initially, a lone flare is fired, mainly for my benefit in order to prepare my camera. Shortly afterwards a brilliant salvo of streaking orange lights spray from either side of the Seahawk, with each trailing a white trail of efflux. Spectacular!

From here we fly further off shore and Sime readies his machine gun, its barrel jutting out into the airflow. A smoke canister is dropped onto the water below to serve as a target as George brings the helicopter back around towards the target area. With every action the crew cross-checks and verifies. The distance and bearing of the target is verified and the safe/armed status of the weapon is communicated.

With the smoke sighted, George brings the Seahawk to bear and Sime readies to fire. The cracking of gun-fire punches through my helmet and the smell fills my nose. Sime directs short, sharp bursts towards the target as the shell casings spray from the machine gun. I look beyond the barrel to see the tell-tale splashes of water rising about the ribbon of smoke. The accuracy of the fire is incredible and it is repeated on two subsequent passes, each time the process of checklists and calls is maintained.

Without a word, Sime secures the machine gun, checks the floor of the helicopter for any stray shell casings and straps back into his seat. He gives me a ‘thumbs up’ to check that all is right with me and I return the gesture as the coastline returns to view all too quickly and the flight draws to a close.

“The accuracy of fire is incredible.”

After landing, Sime closes the side door and we taxi through the ‘bird bath’, a series of fresh water jets that hose the damaging salt water from the airframe. The Seahawk shuts down and the rotors slow to a standstill. The gun is removed and taken away, leaving me and Sime to walk back across the tarmac to return my helmet and vest, and return myself reluctantly to reality.

Beneath the radar

From my arrival at HMAS Albatross at 0730 to the Seahawk parking on the flight line at 1630, it has been a busy day. I have glimpsed into the world of the naval aviator and what it takes to train a crew to a stage where it can be sent to sea with a huge amount of responsibility and minimal supervision.

The sincere philosophy of team work is one that emanated strongly from everyone that I encountered, from the Commander of the Fleet Air Arm, Commodore Di Pietro CSC, RAN through to his men and women that fly and maintain the helicopters. There was a sense of mission that was universal, a pride in what had been achieved and a sense of anticipation for the times ahead.

Even so, the role of the RAN’s helicopters still causes quizzical looks and draws questions from the broader community. Perhaps it was best put by Commodore Di Pietro when he stated, “Naval aviation is what we do and the Fleet Air Arm is who we are.”

Personally, after a day at HMAS Albatross I was left in no doubt as to the vital role performed by these men and women, quite literally on a global scale. A vital role that serves our nation proudly and deserves to emerge from beneath the radar.