The Air Force's newest helicopter, the NH90, has
successfully completed its first landing on the Navy's multi-role vessel, HMNZS
CANTERBURY.
The interface trial is the first stage of a process intended
to integrate helicopter and ship operations - an important step towards the New
Zealand Defence Force goal of establishing a Joint Amphibious Task Force (JATF)
by 2015. While the JATF will be structured for the deployment of combat forces,
the most likely contingencies it will be used for are disaster relief and
conducting exercises in our region in support of nation building.
"The NH90 is a complex helicopter with significant
capability and sophisticated systems and it will form an important part of the
Defence Force's new Joint Amphibious Task Force," said Air Vice-Marshal
Peter Stockwell, Chief of Air Force.
"When fully operational the NH90 will provide valuable
support to the New Zealand Army, and Royal New Zealand Navy, as well as other
Government agencies. It will vastly improve the Air Force's capability to
conduct military, disaster relief, search and rescue and general helicopter
support operations."
Chief of Navy, Rear-Admiral Tony Parr, says the aim of the
trial is to begin proving the Defence Force's ability to land, stow and then
re-launch the helicopter from the CANTERBURY
"It's no easy task to safely land a large helicopter on
a ship," he says. "Once we've established this capability the Navy
will be able to transport the NH90s around New Zealand
Up to four NH90 helicopters will be able to be stowed in the
ship's hangar. As a result of the first trial, any alterations required to the
ship's aviation facilities to support NH90 operations will be identified and
adjusted during the ship's scheduled maintenance programme. The second stage
(planned for mid-late next year) will be conducted to determine the safe
operating limits for the NH90 when operating from HMNZS CANTERBURY.
(Voxy)
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