RAAF celebrates first flight outside Australia in a PC-21, with the crew heading to Ohakea

Exercise Raven Kahu was undertaken recently with No. 4 Squadron from the RAAF and the New Zealand Army’s Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) personnel, undertaking JTAC training. 

RAAF No. 4 Squadron Detachment Commander, Squadron Leader (SQNLDR) Ian DeCarlo said this exercise was brought about from Air Force to Air Force Talks between senior leaders from the RAAF and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).

Through these conversations it was determined the JTAC capability was one that could do with support. This was primarily because throughout Covid-19 restrictions, currency became an issue as they depended on international support from outside militaries to facilitate their training. 

With No. 4 Squadron able to take their PC-21 aircraft out of Australia, a deployment to New Zealand to provide support to their Kiwi counterparts was the perfect fit. 

The 4 Squadron PC-21 is the primary ab-initio training platform for ADF JTACs and, up until this exercise, this aircraft had not deployed internationally.  

“Training alongside our New Zealand partners was a good opportunity to provide support outside of Australia.  Working with our close partner, New Zealand, was the ideal place to start.” SQNLDR Ian DeCarlo said.  

This saw Exercise Raven Kahu created, with No. 4 Squadron working closely with Staff Sergeant Jerome Kingi, the New Zealand Army senior JTAC Instructor from 16^th Field Regiment.

However, it’s not an easy task to deploy four single engine propeller aircraft across the Tasman Sea, and SQNLDR DeCarlo said they did a test run in Australia first. 

In order to validate the planning, equipment, and support requirements for an over water deployment, the squadron took the planes from their normal base in Williamtown, New South Wales, to Tasmania. This put them in a good position for their journey to Base Ohakea. 

To come to New Zealand SQNLDR DeCarlo said the four planes had to head north first, refueling and staying a night in Norfolk Island, before heading down to Ohakea. 

While in Ohakea they flew four sorties a day in support of JTAC and Joint Fire Observer (JFO) training. 

Two JTAC’s from Australia also came for the exercise as well as six contractor aviation mechanics to provide maintenance support to the aircraft. RAAF personnel and equipment came to New Zealand in a RAAF C-27J.

SQNLDR DeCarlo said the training had been a good experience and there had already been discussions about the possibility of this type of training again in the future. 

“The exercise provided valuable training to NZDF JTAC’s and JFO’s and enabled them to train in New Zealand rather than travelling long distances abroad. The feedback that we have received is that future training such as this would be beneficial.”

He said they didn’t often get to work with other countries JTAC’s, especially in the past two years due to Covid-19, so it was a good opportunity to work with a partner nation and make sure their procedures were aligned. 

“It provides us the chance to validate our procedures while working with partner nations.”