Australian Army Aircrewman Corporal Jordan Davies explains his role on the Australian Army Multi Role Helicopter (MRH90) aircraft to Queensland Police Service trainees during familiarisation training for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
© Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence
Local Ipswich residents may notice an increase in air traffic at RAAF Base Amberley from 21 March through to 17 April as part of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) support to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Australian Army helicopters and Royal Australian Air Force fast jets will both be working out of Amberley forming the Queensland Police Service Special Emergency Response Team.
Townsville’s 5th Aviation (5 AVN) Regiment have temporarily relocated to Brisbane to assist the Queensland Police with security tasks requiring rapid mobility.
The Commander of the ADF’s support to the Games, Major General Paul McLachlan, said in the lead up to, and during the Games, Ipswich locals should not be surprised to see Army helicopters flying at RAAF Base Amberley,” Major General McLachlan said. .
“Army helicopters will be flying around the Gold Coast during the day and night and will start familiarisation training before the Games commence.
“In the lead up to and during the Games, Air Force fast jets will also be conducting flying outside their normal hours of operation including night and weekend flying.
“This flying helps minimise the impact to the public should Defence be called upon to support the Queensland Police response to an incident during the Games.”
Training has included on-load and off-load drill rehearsals to ensure 5 AVN and QPS SERT are able to smoothly integrate with one another should the need arise.
Defence support to the Queensland Police Service is an important component of the Australian Government’s overall security arrangements for the Commonwealth Games.
Queensland Police Service Special Emergency Response Team fly over the Gold Coast in an Australian Army Multi Role Helicopter (MRH90) aircraft as part of familiarisation training for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
© Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence
