Air Force Pilots take on Southern Mountains
Tuesday 7 August 2007, 9:33PM
By New Zealand Defence Force
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The mountains around Saint Arnaud are buzzing with activity this week as Royal New Zealand Air Force helicopter crews embark on Exercise Blackbird.
The mountain flying exercise is run out of RNZAF Base Woodbourne this year and involves four Iroquois helicopters and more than 30 personnel.
The helicopters and crews will conduct daily flights from August 6 – 11 to test their skills in a low-visibility, high-wind mountain environment.
Iroquois pilot Flight Lieutenant Neal Crawford said the exercise helped pilots and crews maintain the skills for search and rescue operations or overseas deployments in mountainous terrain.
“When you are flying in the mountains the wind swirls around peaks, dumps over ridge lines and funnels through gullies. It’s much more challenging than flying over an open field or over the ocean”.
The uneven terrain also makes landing more difficult and the snow provides additional challenges when reading the radar, he said.
Exercise Blackbird is held annually and is based out of RNZAF Base Woodbourne or Tekapo Army Camp.
ENDS