Staff reporter

The newly created Certificates III and IV in Airborne Operations, driven by the company and released earlier this year by Industry Skills Australia, are envisioned to advance professional training standards in the aviation sector.

The remotely piloted aircraft system, which can carry a 25-kilogram underslung payload with a maximum 40-minute flight time and a maximum 15-kilometre operating range, was tested as a possible delivery system for the Royal Australian Navy to receive crucial stores without having to launch a helicopter or off-task personnel.

Captain Jonathan Hogan, Major Matthew Stubbs and Captain Alexander Paranthoiene – former Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter pilots – are leading the transition of the Australian Army from the Airbus ARH Tiger to the Boeing AH-64E “Guardian” Apache attack helicopters.

Central to the operation is a small, highly specialised team made up of Australia’s 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit and the US 552nd Air Control Wing, working together in real time to coordinate air operations across the battlespace.

The agreement will see the two organisations collaborate on the local delivery of ITPS training programs, jointly develop new aerospace and uncrewed training courses, and integrate Nova Systems’ advanced Test and Evaluation (T&E) training into the ITPS curriculum.

The display of interoperability in the Northern Territory signified the first time USAF pilots have flown fifth generation aircraft belonging to a partnered or allied nation.