The Australian Army Aviation (AAAvn) is an administrative corps of the Australian Army. It was formed on 1 July 1968. The motto of the Australian Army Aviation corps is Vigilance.
In August 2018, the Corps consisted of 140 aircraft, 1495 uniformed personnel and over 3000 personnel engaged in industry support.[1]
Members of the Aviation Corps are entitled to wear a sky blue beret with the Corps or Regiment badge. Members of other corps posted to AAAvn units wear the sky blue beret with their parent corps badge.
Role
The Australian Army Aviation Corps provides aviation reconnaissance, firepower support, air mobility, battlefield support and surveillance, in a combined, joint or interagency environment.[2] AAAvn primarily accomplishes this through mission-specific organisations such as task forces and battle groups where support is provided to the Army's combat brigades.
History
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The Corps was formed on 1 July 1968 with a strength of 106 officer pilots and one Non-Commissioned Officer,[3][1] however the history of Australian military and Army aviation far predates the establishment of the Corps.
Years before establishment
The earliest known Australian military aviation flights were made by a Royal Engineer Balloon Section at the Sydney Agricultural Ground on 7–8 January 1901. In late 1910, a plan for an Australian Aviation Corps was submitted to the Military Board. Final approval to establish the Australian Flying Corps was promulgated in Military Order No.570 on 22 October 1912, with orders placed for two B.E.2a, two Deperdussin and a Bristol Boxkite to equip the new air arm.[4]
Australian Army Aviation traces its origins back to the Australian Flying Corps (AFC). The Australian Flying Corps was a branch of the Australian Army (then Australian Imperial Force).[5] It was established as a result of the British Empire's call for aviation to be developed in the Empire's armed forces.
In 1914, the Central Flying School was established at Point Cook. Initially, the school consisted of two instructors and five aircraft. From this, Australia became the only British dominion to establish a flying corps for service during World War I.[6] The four line squadrons served under the Royal Flying Corps.[7]
The Australian Flying Corps saw action in Mesopotamia, Sinai, Palestine and on the Western Front.[6] By the end of the war, operations were regular on the Western Front, with pilots providing direct support to the ground battle. For example, on 21 September 1918 a combined air patrol consisting of No. 1 Squadron (AFC) and British bombers discovered the main Turkish advance and inflicted heavy losses.[6]
The Australian Flying Corps remained operational until 1919, when it was disbanded along with the First Australian Imperial Force. Although the Central Flying School continued to operate at Point Cook, military flying virtually ceased until 1920, when the Australian Air Corps (AAC) was formed. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was formed on 31 March 1921.[5]
Post AFC years
After the RAAF was formed, military aviation was no longer a function of the Australian Imperial Force.
Establishment
Forties and Fifties.
The early history of Australian Army aviation has traditional links with the Australian Flying Corps (AFC), Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). From the formation of modern Army aviation in the late 1950s and early 1960s aircrew were drawn from arms and services across the Army, supplemented by the RAAF in key positions.[8]
In June 1965, 161 Reconnaissance Flight (161 Recce Flight) was also raised at Amberley. On 13 September 1965, the Flight deployed with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) into Vung Tau. The Flight deployed initially with two Cessna 180s and two Sioux. The combined force was called the 1 RAR Group[10] and was under operational control of the United States' 3rd Artillery Battalion of the 319th Artillery. The Flight moved to the newly established Luscombe Army Airfield at Nui Dat on 22 Mar 1967.[10] Later, the flight was strengthened to four Cessna 180s and six Sioux.[11]
16 Army Light Aircraft Squadron became the 1st Divisional Army Aviation Regiment on 26 April 1966 and was re-designated the 1st Aviation Regiment on 31 March 1967.[12][13]
On 29 November 1969, Three Pilatus Porters were added to the Flight which was still on service in South Vietnam.[10] In 1971, pilot training was commenced at Vung Tau by the 5th Aviation Detachment, US Army onto the OH58A Kiowa. Eight Kiowa were later delivered on 24 July 1971.[10] 161 Recce Flight departed Vietnam on 7 March 1972 and was the last 1st Australian Task Force unit to leave Vietnam.[10]
Years post-establishment
The Corps has seen service on a variety of operations since its creation:
The Corps manages four primary employment streams:
Pilot
Aircrewman
Groundcrew Mission Support
Groundcrew Aircraft Support
Colours
The design of the colour patch of the Australian Army Aviation Corps is based on the patch of the original Australian Army Flying Corps, from which the Aviation Corps was born. The three Aviation regiments have individual colour patches utilising the Corps patch. 1st Aviation Regiment's patch features a black rectangle in the centre of the Corps patch, 5th Aviation Regiment's patch features a black diamond in the centre, and 6th Aviation Regiment's patch includes a black oval.[15][16]
Equipment
Since November 2009 the Army's air assets are composed exclusively of rotary-wing aircraft (helicopters), the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operating Australian Defence Force's fixed-wing fleet. A limited number of fixed-wing aircraft were used by Aviation Corps, mostly in a surveillance role. A ceremony was held at RAAF Base Townsville on 20 November 2009 to transfer the last three fixed-wing aircraft from the Army to the RAAF.[17]
Current equipment
An Australian Army NHI MRH-90An Australian Army Tiger helicopter
The MRH 90 Taipan (Multi Role Helicopter 90, an Australian variant of the NHI NH90). The aircraft are designed for use in a troop-lift role.[18]
The first test flight of an MRH-90 was conducted at Eurocopter's flight test centre in Marignane, France on 28 March 2007. The first 13 of the total of 47 helicopters were delivered when the remaining aircraft were suspended until issues had been resolved.[19] The MRH-90 was listed as a Project of Concern by the Australian Government on 28 November 2011 due to operational capability concerns.[20] The first four were built in the main plant in France, the remainder built in Brisbane by Australian Aerospace. The MRH-90 was chosen ahead of the UH-60M Black Hawk. This decision was primarily made due to the ADF preferring the Black Hawk, but indicating both airframes could accomplish the missions required. The Government of the time therefore saw both aircraft as capable, but Airbus offered jobs and industrial knowledge by offering a production line in SW Queensland which Sikorsky did not.[21] The MRH 90 Taipan is in service with the 5th and 6th Aviation Regiment. There are, however, significant difficulties with the MRH 90 Taipan in the Special Operations role, which is the remit of 6th Aviation Regiment. This includes an inability to provide covering fire to deployed troops while roping or rappelling from the airframe. In December 2021, the government announced that they would be replacing the Taipan.[22]
The Tiger ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) was designed to provide significant reconnaissance and fire support in a combined arms team and is equipped with Hellfire missiles, 70 mm rockets and cannons.[23] 22 Tigers will be delivered to the Army under the AIR 87 Project, built at the Australian Aerospace Brisbane facility.[24] The Tiger ARH achieved Final Operational Capability on 14 April 2016 originally planned for June 2009 and is in service with the 1st Aviation Regiment.[25] The Tiger will be replaced by the Apache helicopter.[26]
The CH-47D Chinook is operated by C Squadron, 5 Aviation Regiment. C Squadron was raised on the Army order of battle in June 1995, on the return of the Chinooks to Australia after re-manufacture by Boeing USA. The Chinooks' primary role is logistic and battlefield support. They can also be used in the troop-lift role. The then current fleet of seven CH-47Ds have been replaced by 14 new CH-47Fs, the first of which was delivered in May 2015.[28]
The EC135 T2+ is operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Boeing Defence Australia at 723 Squadron, HMAS Albatross.[29][30] The EC135 is a twin-engine light utility helicopter used primarily for aircrew training but has been deployed on operations.[31] All new Army Aviation aircrew are trained on the EC135.
Historical equipment
Fixed wing
One of three Beechcraft King Air 350s to serve with Army AviationA S-70 Black Hawk (left) and CH-47 Chinook (right)
The Bell 206B-1 Kiowa (1972-2019) was primarily employed for airborne observation and flying training.[33] It was also utilised for the command and control of tactical aircraft, such as the F/A-18 and F-111. They often worked closely with artillery and armoured cavalry units. The Kiowa was replaced in 2018 by the Eurocopter EC135 under HATS.
Aircrew within Australian Army Aviation consist of officers and soldiers filling the roles of pilots and load-masters respectively. Load-masters are known as aircrewmen within the Army. Aircrew are selected via a screening process. For pilots, screening begins either prior to entry to the Australian Defence Force Academy, or during initial training at the Royal Military College - Duntroon (RMC-D). Pilots are occasionally selected from other Corps of the Army through the same selection process.
Historically, pilots were able to enter under the Specialist Service Officer scheme (SSO) where the Army rapidly trains and employs specialist officers. In 2018, this scheme was closed to pilots.[citation needed]
For aircrewmen, selection is restricted to in-service candidates who meet the selection criteria.
Pilot training
Pilots begin their employment training at the No.1 Flying Training School on the Pilatus PC-21. After successful completion, pilots are transitioned to rotary wing training at 723 Squadron, HMAS Albatross on the EC135. Pilots attain their category ("wings") and are then streamed for their respective operational conversion courses. These are typically run at the Army Aviation Training Centre. Once complete, pilots complete their Regimental Officer's Basic Course. The entire training continuum is designed to be completed in under two years.[citation needed]
Aircrewman training
Aircrewmen must be selected from within Army and are drawn from a wide range of Corps. Aircrewmen are trained initially at the Army Aviation Training Centre before attending their basic course at 723 Squadron, HMAS Albatross. Aircrewmen then complete an operational type conversion course.
Trade training
There are two non-aircrew trades in the Corps, Groundcrewman Aircraft Support and Groundcrewman Mission Support. Training for both is in addition to 80 days of basic training, undertaken at the Army Recruit Training Centre, Kapooka.
Groundcrewman aircraft support (GCAS)
Basic GCAS training consists of three individual courses covering driving, refuelling and forward arming. They are held at Army units throughout Australia.[34] GCAS soldiers are primarily employed to conduct forward arming and refuelling of aircraft, in tactical or non-tactical environments.[citation needed]
Groundcrewman mission support (GCMS)
Training for groundcrewman mission support also consists of three courses covering driving, communications and command post operations.[35] GCMS soldiers are employed to manage flight following, mission planning and other operational activities for aircraft missions.[citation needed]
^Molkentin, Michael (2010). Fire in the Sky: The Australian Flying Corps in the First World War. Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. p. xi. ISBN978-1742370729.
^Chinn, David (1994). "Blue Bonnets Over The Border: Australian Army Aviation's First UN Operation". Sabretache: The Journal of the Military Collectors Society of Australia. Garran, Australian Capital Territory: Sabretache: 34–40. ISSN0048-8933.
^ abHamilton, Eamon (10 December 2009). "Fixed Wings Freed"(PDF). Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1227 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. p. 6. ISSN0729-5685. Archived from the original(PDF) on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
^Beurich, Cpl Sebastian (28 July 2016). "A story of innovation and commitment"(PDF). Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1378 ed.). Canberra: Department of Defence. ISSN0729-5685. Archived(PDF) from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
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