27 JUNE, 2024

A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130H Hercules crew has today carried out a rare medical evacuation of a patient from Antarctica, taking advantage of a narrowing gap in the weather to fly the challenging night-time mission.

The patient, an American from McMurdo Station, is in a stable condition with a non-life threatening condition. However, they require medical treatment that cannot be carried out in Antarctica.

Air Component Commander Air Commodore Andy Scott says flights to Antarctica at this time of year are very challenging due to the extreme Antarctic environment, changeable weather conditions and because there is no daylight. Apart from flying in a combat environment, night flying missions to Antarctica in the middle of winter present the most challenging and dangerous of conditions.

The Hercules crew flew into Phoenix Airfield using night vision goggles. The first time this technology was used by the RNZAF to fly into Antarctica was in July 2021 for another medical evacuation. One of the pilots on today’s mission also flew on that mission.

The Hercules flew from RNZAF Base Auckland to Christchurch on Tuesday in preparation for today’s flight.

It left Christchurch at 2am and touched down at Phoenix Airfield at 8.50am, and left shortly after 10am for the seven- to eight-hour return flight to Christchurch.

The aircraft was “hot fuelled” on the ice, where the engines are kept running to protect them in the extreme cold. The temperature in Antarctica was minus 33degC with a wind chill bringing temperatures down to minus 40degC. 

“With a narrow gap of acceptable weather, the crew deployed early this morning,” Air Commodore Scott said.

“The weather had deteriorated again on arrival and so they have threaded the needle to get in when they did.”

A PATIENT FROM THE UNITED STATES’ MCMURDO STATION IN ANTARCTICA HAS BEEN FLOWN TO CHRISTCHURCH BY AN RNZAF HERCULES CREW. IMAGES: MCMURDO STATION STAFF

Air Commodore Scott said at each stage of the journey the crew had to make “go, no go” decisions on whether to proceed. 

Our highly trained crew analyse the conditions every step of the way to ensure they can continue. Last night the weather conditions looked suitable, which enabled them to proceed in the early hours of this morning.

Work by McMurdo Station staff to prepare the ice runway at Phoenix Airfield, by clearing snow and compacting it, had been completed on Wednesday.

With no airfields to divert to en route, the aircraft needed to be refuelled in Antarctica before making the journey home.

“The pilots have a point of no safe return when they make the decision to continue or turn around, known as a `boomerang’,” Air Commodore Scott said.

“We’re very pleased we have been able to successfully carry out this Antarctica flight today and get the patient to New Zealand to receive further medical treatment.”

NO. 40 SQUADRON LAND IN CHRISTCHURCH WITH THE PATIENT

Three Royal New Zealand Navy reservists have assisted the Irish Navy in the regeneration of one of their fleet acquisitions from New Zealand.

27 JUNE, 2024

In 2022 the Irish Department of Defence purchased two of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s retired Lake-class Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV), HMNZS Rotoiti and HMNZS Pukaki.

They were sealifted to Ireland in early 2023 and renamed LE Aoibhinn and LE Gobnait.

At the request of the Irish Naval Service, former IPV Commanding Officer Lieutenant Fletcher Slierendrecht, Warrant Officer Marine Technician (Propulsion) Wayne Freeman and Leading Marine Technician (Electrical) William Ikenasio travelled to Haulbowline Naval Base in County Cork.

The three personnel, all from Auckland reserve force unit HMNZS Ngapona, brought extensive experience in operating Inshore Patrol Vessels during their Regular Force careers.

Their task was to work with the Irish Naval Service to carry out initial sea trials for LE Aoibhnin.

LT Slierendrecht says the Irish commissioning crew had been well prepared, with key members previously visiting New Zealand for sea rides aboard IPV HMNZS Taupo when he was in command.

“They had also had sea trials aboard their own purchased IPV during the acquisition process,” he says.

“With that, on top of the preparation they had done prior to us arriving in Ireland meant they had a very good baseline.”

The RNZN team provided informal training and advice across a variety of areas from ship handling, davit operation and machinery and auxiliary system familiarisation.

“We were really there to provide that additional five to ten per cent from our experience operating these vessels in New Zealand.”

IRISH NAVAL SERVICE SHIP LE AOIBHINN, FORMALLY HMNZS ROTOITI, GETS UNDERWAY FROM HAULBOWLINE NAVAL BASE IN COUNTY CORK, IRELAND.

He says Royal New Zealand Navy personnel often have other ancillary roles outside of their chosen trade, while the Irish Naval Service personnel tended to keep to their specialisations. For their IPVs, he says the Irish were looking at adopting the New Zealand model, with the benefit of having a smaller crew.

The sea trials involved 10 days at sea off the south coast of Ireland, achieving Initial Operational Capability for LE Aoibhnin.

LT Slienrendrecht says it was a successful tour of duty. “Every day the ship’s company got more familiar with systems and by the end we became passengers. The North Atlantic treated us pretty well and we had the opportunity to see some of Ireland’s rugged coastline.”

LE Aoibhnin’s captain, Lieutenant Commander Aonghus Ó Neachtain, says the New Zealand team were “professionally excellent, and great shipmates”.

Commodore Michael Malone, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service in Ireland, complimented the team in a letter his New Zealand counterpart, Commodore Andrew Brown, Acting Chief of Navy.

“The team was invaluable in assisting the ship’s company in becoming familiar with the operation of the ship, which is a new class for our Navy. Your team integrated seamlessly with the ship’s company, and their conduct and enthusiasm was a credit to themselves.”

A passion for science and technology has steered Lieutenant Oli Cook on a career as a Navy Weapon Engineering Officer

26 JUNE, 2024

Lieutenant Cook, from Warkworth, is the Assistant Weapon Engineering Officer on board HMNZS Te Kaha.

He attended King’s College in Auckland, and says the idea of a Defence Force career popped up on his radar when a recruiting truck came to school.

“I ended up looking at the Defence Careers website for a while. I went to the University of Canterbury to study mechatronics engineering, and there was a careers expo there. The recruiter told me about the scholarships with the Navy, and said what I was doing was very applicable for a weapons engineer.”

He said it came at a time in his degree when you start thinking about jobs. “Once I had the bit between my teeth about the Navy I didn’t think of anything else.”

He joined the Navy in 2020, becoming a Navy Reserve Officer, and continued with his now-sponsored university studies. The Navy also provided LT Cook with the required internship time needed for an engineering degree.

He then undertook the 22-week Junior Officer Common Training to graduate as a Royal New Zealand Navy officer.

“It wasn’t an easy adjustment going from university to officer training,” he says. “It was a learning process to be humble and learn from mistakes. I soon came right.”

He really enjoys being at sea. “There’s so much variety. And I’m doing what I enjoy. I’m a big technology nerd. This trade is about science and technology, communication, radar theory, learning how acoustics work underwater, and explosive theory. We’ve got the five-inch gun. You really feel like you’re at the pointy end of things.”

When asked what his typical day at sea is, he says there isn’t one. “You wake up, do Physical Training, shower, have breakfast, check signals to find out about flagged defects and update our onboard database. You’re sending and answering emails. And there’s a lot of work during the day, because officers have a lot of ancillary roles – other jobs. On top of that is your task book. I’m working towards my competency certificate.”

His advice to others is something he’s learnt: be humble. “Learn from your mistakes and don’t take feedback personally. You only get out of this what you put in. You develop your leadership in training, but you really get to practise collaborative leadership when you’re at sea.”