June 2006, Issue 71 [pdf 2.8mb, 40 - Royal New Zealand Air Force

8
WN 06-0165-03
WN 06-0165-01
ALT accommodation in a disused
building near the airfi eld.
New Zealand and Australian
military personnel were deployed
to bolster Regional Assistance
Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI)
numbers in the wake of April’s riots
in Honiara. There are currently
125 NZDF personnel serving in the
Solomon Islands. The Air Force
also deployed a four-person Air
Load Team (ALT) to Honiara’s
Henderson Air Field. ALT member
W/O Robyn Gell outlines the
team’s role.
The increased level of incoming and outgoing aircraft required to transport
and service the enlarged RAMSI contingent meant the RNZAF ALT was
deployed, at short notice, to supplement the Australian ALT already
in-country.
The RNZAF ALT’s role was to facilitate arriving and departing aircraft,
downloading passengers and freight and back-loading any passengers
and freight returning to New Zealand. The RNZAF ALT also assisted the
ADF in the facilitation of RAAF aircraft and ADF chartered civilian fl ights.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ALT
The RNZAF’s ALT consisted of W/O Robyn Gell (WP); F/S Steve
McCutcheon (OH); CPL Tracy Harrison (OH) and LAC Ross Mosely (Chch).
A normal day started with coffee and discussion of the day’s proposed
aircraft movements and payload details such as passenger numbers and
freight. These movements were fl uid and timings often changed due to
circumstances and other commitments. At one stage all ADF fl ights were
put on hold due to Cyclone Monica heading for Darwin.
Once fl ights details were confi rmed the ALT prepared equipment to
download the aircraft. Initially there was no material handling equipment
(MHE) and all downloads were done by hand. This was a tough and slow
task in the hot and humid environment. The fi rst few fl ights were enginerunning
offl oads/onloads (EROs). The lack of MHE required to download
freight in normal circumstances, meant freight had to be ‘combat’ offloaded.
This involves freight being pushed out the rear of the aircraft while
it is still moving along the taxi way.
L - R: CPL Tracy Harrison, LAC Brett Pearson
RAAF, LAC Ross Mosely, LAC Gary Francis
RAAF, F/S Steve McCutcheon and W/O Robyn
Gell at the Solomon Islands Memorial Garden.
The garden is dedicated to those men who
fought and who died on Guadalcanal.
Loading the B757 in Auckland.
AIR LOAD TEAM
TO HONIARA
FAST TURN AROUND
The fi rst few fl ights of the deployment saw all freight quickly moved
off the airfi eld and into the area of operation, in order to make way for
other incoming aircraft. Those early fl ights consisted of a variety of stores
including vehicles, communication equipment, rations, personnel, weapons
and ammunition.
After the initial push the number of fl ights reduced and the focus then
became resupply. The ALT estimated they moved half a million pounds of
freight and personnel during the fi rst few days.
After spending the fi rst night on the fl oor of the domestic terminal
passenger lounge, the ALT, using ‘Kiwi can do’ attitude took the bull by
the horns, contacted local airport staff and managed to secure a disused
building to setup camp for the remainder of their tour. It may have helped
that the Controller of Civil Aviation in Honiara just happened to be an
ex-RNZAF Wing Commander — Mr Bill MacGregor. This disused building
later became home for both the New Zealand and Australian ALTs.
Ration packs became the menu of the day with the usual delights of threeminute
noodles, satay beef, curried chicken, lamb and mint, cracker biscuits
and other unmentionable delicacies. ADF and NZDF ALT members debated
the relative merits of each other’s ration packs until it was discovered both
were made in New Zealand.
ANZAC DAY
It was particularly fi tting that the ADF and RNZAF spent the day working
side-by-side on ANZAC Day. A small service was held between the two
nations in the morning, where a moment’s silence was observed to
remember those who had gone before them. It may have been that they
were mourning the fact that they were unable to partake in the customary
rum and coffee that had always been synonymous with this day back home
due to it being a dry mission!
As operational tempo allowed, the RNZAF ALT offered their services to
the local airport authorities to help out in any way they could. This work
included rubbish clean up, general gardening and carrying out routine
maintenance on the airport equipment which had not seen a grease gun
or tyre pump for quite some time! This was done with much humour and
was designed to enhance relations with the locals and by way of thanks
for all the support they had provided the team during their stay.
RETURN TO NEW ZEALAND
Mission accomplished the ALT returned to New Zealand on 28 April.
Henderson Air Field has returned to business as usual. ALTs are still
deployed, but transit with RNZAF aircraft, load and unload freight and
passengers and then return to Base Auckland.
AFN71 JUNE 06 www.airforce.mil.nz
AK 06-0141-04