HMAS Choules has sailed to renew its authorization to fly aircraft after a lengthy maintenance period of over a year.
Choules boarded an MH-60R Seahawk in the middle of March to carry out best-in-class flight tests.
The experiments, which were carried out off the coast of Queensland, aided in creating ship’s helicopter operating limitations (SHOLs), which provide safe conditions for the aircraft’s takeoff and landing when working at sea.
Following significant modifications to the ship’s exhaust system, Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Shaun Baldwin claimed the testing was necessary.
The airflow over the flight deck has changed due to the package’s upgrade to the exhaust stacks.
Choules will be able to assist the rest of the fleet when they need to land, refuel, or transfer supplies, according to Lieutenant Commander Baldwin, when the ship has a complete set of SHOLs.
“Like a Swiss army knife, the aeroplane. In a combat position, we can assist other ships engaged in anti-submarine warfare by refuelling their planes, according to Lieutenant Commander Baldwin.
These new SHOLs may be employed in an amphibious environment for other aircraft like the Chinook, making moving supplies and even vehicles easier.
Lieutenant Commander Baldwin continued by saying that his crew had gained valuable aviation experience thanks to the testing.
Not just the crew on the flight deck but also the units in the operations room, communications room, and bridge team.
The Navy’s Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials Unit (AMAFTU) was responsible for the flight trials. However, the ship, the supporting operating squadron, and AMAFTU all worked together to make them successful.
Lieutenant Commander Nathan Softley, senior flight test engineer (FTE) with AMAFTU, explained that the trial test pilots and FTE fly to various environmental circumstances to evaluate aircraft performance constraints and pilot workload.
According to Lieutenant Commander Softley, “the test flying activities enable the creation of a safe operating envelope for the aircraft working with the ship.”
This study will develop a set of SHOL recommendations that assist commanding officers and flight crews in the safe operation of the MH-60R with Choules.
To guarantee that everyone is prepared for the triservice exercise that will be performed off the east coast in the middle of the year, the crew will practice with the sea boats and Mexeflote.