Published Date:
16-Dec-2011
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shipping-exchangeThe chopper fleet has played a key role in Australia's defence capabilities, search and rescue, national disaster relief efforts and aid operations.

A new generation of helicopters will be introduced but they're still undergoing trials.

Eleanor Bell reports.

(Sound of a helicopter)


ELEANOR BELL: The Royal Australian Navy's Sea King helicopters have taken to the skies for a final flight.


After 35 years of service, the "Mack truck of the skies", as they're known, are retiring.


Lieutenant commander Tanzi Lea is at the decommissioning ceremony. He's been the flying Sea Kings for decades.


TANZI LEA: Anybody whose flown the Sea King will tell you that they're a wonderful old girl and probably people who have moved on, they are actually coming back to try and grab another last flight in her because they think so much of them. You can trust them, you can rely on them.


ELEANOR BELL: Can you tell me about the role that the Sea King helicopter has played in naval operations?

TANZI LEA: Yes, initially when it first came out they were doing anti-submarine warfare so they were chasing submarines around the place.


Of course we were still doing a plethora of other jobs which all helicopters do like search and rescue and aids to the civil community but in 1996 we had a change of role. We took the sonar out and then we became what they call a fleet utility vehicle whereby we supply the ships at sea with either personnel or stores and we still do a major role of search and rescue and helping with civil community.


Besides that we have done peacekeeping roles in Bougainville and Somalia and taken part in three or four gulf detachments as well.


ELEANOR BELL: The MRH 90 multi-role helicopter are set to replace the Sea Kings. What's their status?

TANZI LEA: Their status at the moment is still undergoing final developments but they are quickly coming online. It is a wonderful aircraft and like anything there is probably just minor teething troubles which they are overcoming and look, when it is online it is going to be a fantastic helicopter.


ELEANOR BELL: So there's there lag between the decommissioning of the Sea Kings and their replacements coming online?

TANZI LEA: Oh, there'll be a short one but I think it will be seamless to anybody else because we do have Sea Hawk aircraft as well.



ELEANOR BELL: So this won't compromise our defence capabilities?

TANZI LEA: Oh, I wouldn't think so at all, no.



ELEANOR BELL: Now looking further back, in 2005, a Sea King helicopter crashed in Indonesia's Nias Island killing nine of the 11 passengers onboard. The inquiry following the incident revealed substandard maintenance was a problem both before and after that crash. Should the Sea Kings have been phased out then?

TANZI LEA: I'm going to tell you now but I am not at liberty to talk about that but what your answer is from everybody who flies a Sea King is no, we have faith in the Sea King and we enjoy flying it.



ELEANOR BELL: What measures did the Navy take to ensure that those helicopters were brought up to standard?

TANZI LEA: Oh, they changed maintenance procedures and practices which is prevalent now and all squadrons adopt that.