1
00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,760
Speaker 1: Real change of pace because the Air Forces buy and

2
00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:05,440
Speaker 1: your flying activities are set to take place in the

3
00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:08,760
Speaker 1: top end in July. A range of community events are

4
00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,840
Speaker 1: planned in the leading to Exercise Pitch Black. We know

5
00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:13,960
Speaker 1: that Pitch Black twenty four is said to be the

6
00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:18,000
Speaker 1: largest in the exercises forty three year history. And joining

7
00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:20,240
Speaker 1: us right now to tell us a little bit more

8
00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,440
Speaker 1: it is Air Force Head of Air Shows, Air Commander

9
00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:25,840
Speaker 1: Mecca Gray. Good morning to you, Mecca.

10
00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:27,360
Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, thanks for having on your program.

11
00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,400
Speaker 1: Yeah, lovely to have you on the show now. First off,

12
00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,160
Speaker 1: and I want to get to the to the what's

13
00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:35,360
Speaker 1: happening in the lead in, but just remind our listeners

14
00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,040
Speaker 1: what Exercise Pitch black is all about.

15
00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,600
Speaker 2: Yeah, XOS. Pitch Black's been running for over forty years.

16
00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:44,040
Speaker 2: It's the Air Force's major multinational air defense and air

17
00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,040
Speaker 2: training exercise and we do it out of the Northern

18
00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,040
Speaker 2: Territory because it's just great flying airspace and it's a

19
00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,680
Speaker 2: great location to live and work and operate from here.

20
00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,360
Speaker 1: What does make our airspace so good for flying, well,

21
00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:57,360
Speaker 1: the airspace that we have to operate in is about

22
00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:58,240
Speaker 1: the size of the UK.

23
00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,600
Speaker 2: The countries from all around the world and in fact,

24
00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:03,600
Speaker 2: and they are from all around the world in this excise.

25
00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:06,160
Speaker 2: You know, they don't have those huge training areas, so

26
00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,400
Speaker 2: we have you know, hundreds of aircraft airborn on each mission,

27
00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,800
Speaker 2: you know, defending and attacking. So it's really good and

28
00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,280
Speaker 2: it's essential training. That's what everyone needs to do.

29
00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,960
Speaker 1: It is such an interesting time, you know when exercise

30
00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:20,400
Speaker 1: pitch bike gets underway and some of the different aircraft

31
00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:23,920
Speaker 1: that you see in the sky, like it's I don't

32
00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,240
Speaker 1: think that. I guess we're here in the Northern Territory.

33
00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:28,399
Speaker 1: We maybe become a bit laxed about this because it

34
00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,360
Speaker 1: happens quite often, but you really wouldn't see this in

35
00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:32,880
Speaker 1: many other parts of the world, would you.

36
00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,200
Speaker 2: No, that's right, and we you know, Australia puts a

37
00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,800
Speaker 2: lot of effort into this because we invite you know,

38
00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,960
Speaker 2: we have over twenty one nations bringing aircraft and there's

39
00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,960
Speaker 2: are another range of countries you know bring men in

40
00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,160
Speaker 2: equipment or people and equipment and you know, so it's

41
00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,360
Speaker 2: that whole interaction with allies and partners. It's really important

42
00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:53,360
Speaker 2: learning how each other operate. The range of equipments phenomenal

43
00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,680
Speaker 2: we have, you know, ever a dozen fighter type aircraft,

44
00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,560
Speaker 2: airy fueling tankers, special purpose aircraft, the surveillance planes, the

45
00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:05,200
Speaker 2: airborne warning control aircraft, utility aircraft. So it's really impressive.

46
00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:07,960
Speaker 1: It truly is. Now, Mikar, I understand a number of

47
00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,760
Speaker 1: community events have also been planned. One is happening at

48
00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:12,920
Speaker 1: Mindle Beach. I think that's July.

49
00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,200
Speaker 2: Ten on sind By July eighteenth.

50
00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,320
Speaker 1: July eighteen. My apology, sorry, tell us a little bit

51
00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:19,320
Speaker 1: more about what's expected.

52
00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:23,799
Speaker 2: Yeah, because this is really the community engagement activities we do,

53
00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,480
Speaker 2: just think the ongoing support that we get from the territory.

54
00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,639
Speaker 2: So Mindle Beach at the market's the standard thursdayne markets.

55
00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:31,519
Speaker 2: We do a flying display, so an hour and a

56
00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:34,320
Speaker 2: half of over twenty aircraft basically a mini air show

57
00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,639
Speaker 2: from five o'clock till six thirty in the evening on

58
00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:39,600
Speaker 2: that's the Thursday eighteenth of.

59
00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:43,160
Speaker 1: July market, So Thursday the eighteenth of July. Now you've

60
00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,399
Speaker 1: done something similar to this in the past as well,

61
00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:45,840
Speaker 1: haven't you.

62
00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:47,760
Speaker 2: Yes, we did it in twenty twenty two. Last one

63
00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:49,880
Speaker 2: we did it in twentieth that was the COVID years.

64
00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:51,800
Speaker 2: But each year we've done that and it's actually grown

65
00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,160
Speaker 2: from just a fly pass a couple of aircraft going

66
00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,520
Speaker 2: past the beach to a very coordinated demonstration of all

67
00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,480
Speaker 2: the international players, so all the countries a participating flying

68
00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:00,720
Speaker 2: in that.

69
00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:03,079
Speaker 1: I remember the last time it happened there was a

70
00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:04,919
Speaker 1: bit of a traffic jam. Everyone was trying to get

71
00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,120
Speaker 1: to Mindle Beach to watch it. And that's I mean,

72
00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,400
Speaker 1: that's the really interesting part about this is it has

73
00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,760
Speaker 1: become something that people want to get to Mindle Beach

74
00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:12,639
Speaker 1: to see. Yeah.

75
00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:14,320
Speaker 2: Well, the market's a very huge part of the community

76
00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,240
Speaker 2: up there, I think, and for all international businesses and

77
00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:18,600
Speaker 2: everyone else, So to have a mini airshow at the

78
00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:20,200
Speaker 2: same time it's great. So all the vendors and all

79
00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,440
Speaker 2: the people get there. You know, it's two events in one.

80
00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,760
Speaker 2: That's the standard markets and the flying is played.

81
00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:26,880
Speaker 1: That's right. And will this year's be sort of bigger

82
00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:27,480
Speaker 1: and better than ever.

83
00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:28,960
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a little bit bigger than last time for

84
00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:31,280
Speaker 2: an hour and a half. Flying will start at five,

85
00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,600
Speaker 2: so for people that can get down there early Mindal

86
00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,240
Speaker 2: Beach and all the way up to around the cliffs,

87
00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:38,680
Speaker 2: it'll be a great location to see that. And then

88
00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:40,840
Speaker 2: the second community event we do is on the Saturday

89
00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,400
Speaker 2: two days later on Saturday, the twentieth of July, the

90
00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:45,440
Speaker 2: Air Force Base, the RAF dauw And Air Force Bace.

91
00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,440
Speaker 2: That's an open day from nine till four where all

92
00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:50,800
Speaker 2: those aircraft that were flying, plus others and a whole

93
00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,000
Speaker 2: range of ground equipment will be on display on the ground.

94
00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,400
Speaker 2: So free community event parking will be at the showground.

95
00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,520
Speaker 2: We'll shuttle bus people in and out and it'll be

96
00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,520
Speaker 2: you know, incredible event. We've got a arrange of activities.

97
00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:05,760
Speaker 2: We've got Collex stamp passports for the kids, go visit

98
00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:07,840
Speaker 2: all the store. So all those international countries will have

99
00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:09,960
Speaker 2: stall set up in front of their aircraft and other equipment.

100
00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:12,160
Speaker 2: And the best thing about it is, you know, we

101
00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:13,800
Speaker 2: all like talking to a community in the public because

102
00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,919
Speaker 2: we often get that opportunity. The international military people here

103
00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,600
Speaker 2: absolutely love it because there's every person for the territory

104
00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,360
Speaker 2: and from around Australia come just for this.

105
00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:23,360
Speaker 1: How cool? And yeah do you see a lot of

106
00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:25,880
Speaker 1: people travel from other parts of Australia just for that,

107
00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:26,599
Speaker 1: do you? Yeah? We do.

108
00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:28,920
Speaker 2: Yeah. We've had people contact us since the last one

109
00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,240
Speaker 2: saying what's the next day we plan our territory road

110
00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,039
Speaker 2: trip holiday to coincide with.

111
00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,320
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's really good. That's good to hear. It has

112
00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,440
Speaker 1: become such a huge part of the community as well

113
00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:42,440
Speaker 1: with exercise Pitch Blake and I know that people sort

114
00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,520
Speaker 1: of see the aircraft flying over when the actual exercise

115
00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:48,279
Speaker 1: is underway, but those community events, how important are they

116
00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:52,400
Speaker 1: really to make sure that everyday territorians and visitors are

117
00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,919
Speaker 1: part of this exercise and something that's so unique to

118
00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:56,839
Speaker 1: the Northern Territory.

119
00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,120
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's really important, Katie, because you know there is

120
00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:01,240
Speaker 2: as a very posit to impact on the community and

121
00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:03,640
Speaker 2: business and other things, but there's also a huge noise

122
00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:05,480
Speaker 2: impact and we're or aware of that. Not everyone enjoys the

123
00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,200
Speaker 2: aircraft noise fact on kids and families, but it's essential

124
00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:10,320
Speaker 2: training have to do so as a way of giving

125
00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:13,280
Speaker 2: back as letting people know what we do so they

126
00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:14,560
Speaker 2: can see it, they can come and talk to people,

127
00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:16,200
Speaker 2: see the aircraft and then it makes sense and they

128
00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,120
Speaker 2: realize the size and scale and how important Australia is

129
00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:21,359
Speaker 2: to host a multinational exercise.

130
00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:23,520
Speaker 1: Well, Mekka, it's going to be wonderful. Remind us again

131
00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,560
Speaker 1: of those dates at Mindle Beach and then also the

132
00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:26,120
Speaker 1: open day.

133
00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,920
Speaker 2: Yeah, so Mindle Beach Markets. They're flying display on Thursday

134
00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,560
Speaker 2: nights the five pm to six thirty and then two

135
00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,760
Speaker 2: days later at the Air Force Base on Saturday, the

136
00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,600
Speaker 2: twentieth of July nine till four parking at the showground.

137
00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:39,240
Speaker 2: One more on the open day. We will be ticketing

138
00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:40,919
Speaker 2: it this year. There will be free tickets, but we

139
00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:42,560
Speaker 2: need people to register so we can cater for the

140
00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,359
Speaker 2: numbers for traffic, transport amenities etc. More information on the

141
00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,520
Speaker 2: tickets for mid June four for the event.

142
00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:51,320
Speaker 1: Well, I reckon we'll catch up with you again before

143
00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:52,920
Speaker 1: the event, because we do want to make sure that

144
00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,479
Speaker 1: everybody knows exactly you know, what's involved. It's such a

145
00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,719
Speaker 1: great way of getting the community involved and something that

146
00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,720
Speaker 1: I know people really enjoy going along too. So Micka Gray,

147
00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,520
Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time this morning. Air Force Head

148
00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,760
Speaker 1: of Air Shows air Commodore lovely to speak to you

149
00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:09,279
Speaker 1: this morning.

150
00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,080
Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, and thanks again for the territories for hosting

151
00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:13,599
Speaker 2: defense up here and looking after it so well.

152
00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:15,000
Speaker 1: Good stuff. Thank you,