RAAF repairs damaged airfields in Philippines

The RAAF MTTs deployed under the Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P) program, which is coordinating more than 20 engagements by Defence MTTs this year.

Squadron Leader Mick Lane is the air operations and training officer with JATT-P in Manila.

“The deployed ATC MTT involved members of RAAF No. 44 Wing with significant fixed-base (tower and approach) ATC experience and also deployed ATC experience at austere airfields and environments,” SQNLDR Lane said.

“It comprised of three members who conducted their MTT at Clark Air Base in Luzon, about a three-hour drive north of Manila.”

The deployed members had no previous experience working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), although the RAAF had previously worked in this area.

In October 2013, RAAF ATC aviators deployed to the Philippine city of Tacloban after it was devastated by a typhoon.

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The normally quiet airport was a vital hub for the delivery of disaster relief and the mass evacuation of Philippine civilians, while all undergoing recovery from storm damage.

The deployed ATC MTT conducted discussions on planning and separation considerations with Philippine Air Force (PAF) ATC at Clark Air Base, examining case studies and conducting practical desktop exercises.

“The PAF has no previous deployed ATC experience, so this training was very gratefully received,” SQNLDR Lane said.

“The RAAF MTT provided tuition on airspace design for deployed ATC in support of humanitarian relief (civil integration) and military operations. It also worked on deployed ATC planning with consideration air traffic management system capabilities, logistics and sustainment, and procedures for separation of civil and military aircraft.

“This includes the application of procedural control at airfields where there is no radar and integration procedures for unmanned aerial system.”

Meanwhile, an airfield damage repair and airfield survey MTT involved four RAAF members travelling to Basa Air Base, also north of Manila.

This MTT drew members from RAAF Headquarters Combat Support Group, 4 Squadron, Air Mobility Control Centre’s Mobile Airfield Engineering Team, and 295 Squadron. Several members had previous experience with the AFP, having conducted surveys of Philippine airfields.

“The airfield damage repair and survey MTT provided information and some practical skills across the AFP,” SQNLDR Lane said.

“This included construction management responses when conducting airfield damage repair and airfield survey and operational airfield access survey.”

Airfield surveys are a key force enabler in providing manoeuvrability and freedom of action when operating within the near region, allowing for safe and continued air operations anywhere around the world. As not every airfield is the same, the weight of a C-130 Hercules might allow it to safely operate from one airfield but restrict the number of landings at another, or potentially damage a “weak” runway surface. Infrastructure, including runways, taxiways and parking areas, often requires repair due to damage from weather, geological conditions and even enemy attack.

“The Airfield Damage Repair and Survey MTT conducted ‘practical’ exercises on runways at Fort Magsaysay and Woodland Airpark,” SQNLDR Lane said.

“The training will allow PAF members to integrate with RAAF airfield survey personnel on future tasks. This MTT could potentially lead to greater practical training opportunities with the AFP, which includes improved sharing of airfield survey data.”