1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: So we are catching up with Jim Collison, well from 2 00:00:04,880 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: the he's the commanding Officer of the R Double AF 3 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: Darwin because Exercise Pitch Black twenty twenty two it is 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:15,160 Speaker 1: a three week multinational large force employment exercise. Now it's 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,439 Speaker 1: conducted from the R Double AF base here in Darwin 6 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 1: and the Raft based Tindle from the nineteenth of August 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: until the eighth of September. So the exercise, as I 8 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: understand it, it does host up to two thousand and 9 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: five hundred personnel and up to one hundred aircraft from 10 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 1: seventeen nations including Canada, New Zealand, the UK, France, Indonesia, India, 11 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: the Netherlands, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and the US. Now 12 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: joining me on the line this morning to tell us 13 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: more about the exercise is Commanding Officer of the R 14 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: Double AF Darwin, Wing Commander Jim Collison. Good morning to you, Jim. 15 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. How are you out here at Humpty Primary? 16 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: Well, I was going to say before I ask you 17 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: more about Exercise Pitch Black, I understand that you're actually 18 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 1: out there at Humpty Doo Primary School with one of 19 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: the hot. 20 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 2: Air balloons we have indeed. So we've got the hot 21 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 2: air balloon. It's come all the way up here to 22 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 2: Dowan from Canberra just to do some community engage me 23 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 2: work with the primary school here and a number of 24 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 2: other primary schools in the Northern Territory. So please excuse 25 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 2: me if there's a little bit of noise in the 26 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 2: background and the kids playing in whatever else. 27 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: No, that's totally fine. So do you roll in in 28 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: the hot air balloon or what are you doing? 29 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: I know, so I'm not actually sitting at the moment. 30 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 2: What they've done is they've bought the basket out here 31 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 2: with the burner so the kids can have a go 32 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:42,479 Speaker 2: and play with the burner on the basket there while 33 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 2: it's heavily supervised of course, And they've got the balloon 34 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 2: on its side on the oval here so that they 35 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 2: can run around inside of the balloon, which is kind 36 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 2: of exciting. 37 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, And I understand that the team's also going 38 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: to be visiting Alowa Primary School, Nightcliffe Primary School, Gray 39 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: Primary School and Jingly as well this way. 40 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's dirrect. Yeah, they're going to move around and 41 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 2: provide the balloon for the kids to play on and 42 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,519 Speaker 2: to have a look at hopefully in support of the 43 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 2: community up here in the northern country and Jim, are. 44 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 1: They pretty excited when you. 45 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 2: Guys arrive most definitely. Yeah, there was lots of screaming 46 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 2: and joy I think they were running around, especially when 47 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 2: they get to touch that handle on the burner which 48 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 2: makes big flame come out of the top. Lots of 49 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 2: excitement there. How cool. 50 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: Now let's talk about the exercise. I understand that there's 51 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: going to be up to twenty five hundred personnel and 52 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: up to one hundred aircraft from seventeen nations and a 53 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 1: few new countries taking part this year as well for 54 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 1: the first time. 55 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely. So you mentioned all a few of those 56 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,359 Speaker 2: other nations there earlier, but we've also got Germany, Japan, 57 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 2: and the Republic of Korea who were coming over for 58 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 2: the first time. They're bringing their fighter aircraft over with them. 59 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 1: And how important is it to you to help have 60 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: all of these different nations take part. 61 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 2: Look, it's really important, Katie. We use this exercise as 62 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 2: part of an international engagement program as well as enhancing 63 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 2: our air combat capabilities and our air combat tactics and 64 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 2: training that we do. It's an essential exercise for military 65 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 2: training up here in the Northern Territory so that we 66 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 2: can act on behalf of the Australian government if required 67 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 2: to do so. 68 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: Now, I know that the city is buzzing at the 69 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 1: moment with tourists. Are where's everyone being accommodated? Where are 70 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: all the personnel sort of staying. 71 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 2: We've got a number of personnels staying in town at 72 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:38,279 Speaker 2: different hotels, but we've also got other personnel being accommodated 73 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 2: at various bases throughout the Northern Territory, including our own 74 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 2: base there at Raft based Darwin, but also just down 75 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 2: the road at Defense Derima. 76 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: Yeah right, So is there is there sort of a 77 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: tent set up or anything like that at the Raft 78 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: base or what has to happen? 79 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 2: No, at this stage, Look, we've brought in a lot 80 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 2: of a lot of demoundable kind of facilities for them 81 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 2: to be able to work in. But in terms of 82 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 2: the accommodation, most of the people are able to be 83 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 2: accommodated at WRAP based doing everything accommodation. 84 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: Now, I think the big question that everybody wonders is 85 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: what are they going to expect to see in the 86 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: skies over the coming weeks as exercise or operation Pitch 87 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: Black gets underway. 88 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, most definitely, Katie. Look, we're really excited to be 89 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 2: able to present our Mindle Beach flyover on the twenty 90 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 2: fifth of August. We're hoping that we'll get a lot 91 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 2: of people out there on Mindle Beach being able to 92 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 2: see a myriad of the different aircraft from all of 93 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 2: the different countries flying over, some doing some blind displays 94 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 2: and the like. And at the same time, on the 95 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 2: twenty seventh of August, we've got an open day at 96 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 2: rap Based Dowen where the majority of those foreign aircraft 97 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:54,479 Speaker 2: will be on display for people to come and have 98 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 2: a look at and enjoy themselves. 99 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 1: And that's always a really important part of it, isn't 100 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: it to make sure that the community is and I 101 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: know that a lot of people, you know, are really 102 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: very interested. 103 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, most definitely. Look, we know that we get great 104 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 2: support of the Northern Territory community and we're really happy 105 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 2: to be able to give back in a small way 106 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 2: at least with these few activities that we can get 107 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 2: the community involved and they can come out and view 108 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 2: and enjoy the aircraft that are coming over here for 109 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: exercise Pitch Black. 110 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:27,559 Speaker 1: Now, Jim, I know that there is always some people 111 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 1: who are a little bit concerned about some of the noise. 112 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: Can we expect some noise over the next couple of 113 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 1: weeks when it gets underway. 114 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 2: Look, there will be noises as part of the exercise, Katie. 115 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,799 Speaker 2: I think it's important that the community understands the reason 116 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 2: why we undertake exercises like Pitch Black. There are essential 117 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,920 Speaker 2: activities to ensure that the WRATH personnel and the international 118 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 2: partners remain ready to respond to protect Australia's national interestypre required, 119 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 2: and in doing so, we're also making sure that where possible, 120 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 2: we limit the impact of is to the community by 121 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 2: limiting speed of the aircraft, not using some of the 122 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 2: after burners and stuff when we don't have to, and 123 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 2: also minimizing the flying over the residential areas as much 124 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 2: as possible. We appreciate that ongoing support from the community 125 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 2: and that's part of the reason why we're trying to 126 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 2: give back as much as we can now. 127 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: Jim, I know that I've got a couple of text 128 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 1: messages coming through from our listeners this morning who are 129 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: very keen to find out when some of the aircraft 130 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: might be taking off or you know, whether they're going 131 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: to be able to see much from Amy Johnson drive 132 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 1: there because the kids are apparently keen to see them 133 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 1: taking off as well. 134 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, they probably will be able to view some 135 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 2: of the aircraft once the exercise kicks off and is underway. 136 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 2: The opening of the exercise on the nineteenth. I think 137 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 2: the first flying begins around the twenty second of August, 138 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 2: and there'll be essentially two waves of aircraft in the 139 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 2: morning and again in the afternoon, so there should be 140 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 2: an opportunity first thing, or not that first thing in 141 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 2: the morning, but relatively early in the morning, and then 142 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 2: just after lunch in the afternoon. 143 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,679 Speaker 1: Oh good stuff. Well, Jim, it does sound as though 144 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 1: the kids are pretty excited out there at the school. 145 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: I can hear plenty of action going on in the background. 146 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: Good on you guys, have a great morning, and no 147 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 1: doubt we'll catch up with you again soon. 148 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 2: Great and look forward to it. And thanks for support Katie, 149 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 2: no worries, Thank you.