MOUNTAIN FLYING AT LOW LEVEL

Its highest point is only 558 metres above sea level and many people might call that a hill, but Campbell Island still requires mountain-flying skills and a lot of preparation.

The weather eventually proved to be kind during the two days of flying and Royal New Zealand Air Force No. 6 Squadron and Seasprite NZ3614 managed to take 13 loads ashore and bring back seven loads to HMNZS CANTERBURY.

Pilot, Lieutenant Commander Luke Godsell said the previous Operation Endurance team had put together a comprehensive guide on flying conditions in the Sub-Antarctic Islands.

“There was a fair bit of pre-reading on what to expect and we had to have squadron currency in mountain flying in order to come down for this operation.

“One of the key prep things we have is the mountain flying training that we do, even though we are not up at the heights of mountains a lot of the techniques and weather expected is similar.

“It’s the local effects that can catch you out. You can have a predominant wind from the west but because of the terrain, and very steep cliffs on a lot of areas of the island, you can find it will come from any direction.”

“Beeman Base is another great local effect for the wind where it can be coming from one direction, but once it hits the terrain it shifts, accelerates and can catch you off-guard.”

In the end, the only hindrance was cloud, which delayed some of their jobs around Mt Honey.

“We’d basically fly circles, wait for the cloud to shift and then get in there to drop in and out.”

They had been planning on getting up to six days’ flying, but in the two days they were in the air they achieved enough.

“We got everything done that we were tasked to do in the two days. If we had another five days there would have been wildlife tasks and some extra kit to come off the island.”

Loadmaster Lieutenant Zach Taylor said the crew was lucky in that it had just completed Op Havre at Rangitāhua/Raoul Island and a lot of that prep continued over in the gear that they needed and served as a nice lead in.

“It’s a pretty unique place. We were lucky to come to somewhere as remote as this. It’s ruggedly beautiful.”