Curtescy of FAA Magazine Slipstream

The text below is the Chief of Navy signal explaining the requirement to establish the new Aviation Support Category for LHD operations.

FM CN AUSTRALIA

TO ATG 3600

ATG 3602

RAN ALL SHORE 1/3

RAN ALL SHORE 2/3

RAN ALL SHORE 3/3

BT

UNCLAS

SIC WAA

ORIGNO: 2636/DFMS

015 ALL SHIP 0,15 ALL SHORE 013 ALL OVERSEAS

SUBJ: ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AVIATION SUPPORT CATEGORYTHE RAN IS SCHEDULED TO INTRODUCE THE TWO CANBERRA CLASS

1. AMPHTBIOUS ASSAULT SHIPS (LHD) DURING THE PERIOD 2014-2016.THE ARRIVAL OF THESE SHIPS WILL REQUIRE NEW COMPETENCIES AND SKILL SETS TO BE MASTERED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE POTENTIAL AMPHIBIOUS CAPABILITY PROVIDED BY THESE PLATFORMS IS FULLY REALISED ONE SUCH AREA OF EXPERTISE IS THE CONDUCT OF MULTI-SPOT AVIATION OPERATIONS FROM A LARGE FLIGHT DECK, THE SCALE OF WHICH THE RAN HAS NOT CONDUCTED SINCE THE DE-COMMISSIONING OF THE CVS HMAS MELBOURNE. 

2, THE COMPLEX NATURE OF LHD AVIATION OPERATIONS WARRANTS PERSONNEL WITH SPECIALIST TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE TO MASTER THE COMPETENCIES REQUIRED TO ENSURE SAFE AND EFFICIENT MULTI-SPOT FLIGHT DECK AND HANGAR OPERATIONS, ACCORDINGLY I HAVE AGREED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AVIATION SUPPORT (AVN) CATEGORY TO UNDERTAKE THESE DUTIES ON THE LHD 

3 TO ESTABLISH THE CATEGORY IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO MEET THE LHD TNTRODUCTION INTO SERVICE PLAN, COMMANDER FLEET AIR ARM (COMFAA), lN  CONJUNCTION WITH THE DIRECTORATE 0F NAVY CATEGORY MANAGEMENT (DNCM), TS To ESTABLISH A CATEGORY IMPLEMENTATION MANGEMENT TEAM (CIMT). THE CIMT IS TO DEVELOP AND COORDINATE THE EXECUTION OF AN AVN CATEGORY ESTABLISHMENT PLAN, ENSURING GROWTH OF THE CATEGORY MATCHES LHD REQUIREMENTS 4. FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE AVN CATEGORY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE WHEN THE CATEGORY DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS FINALISED

 With the resurrection of the Premier Bramch of the Fleet Air Arm what will be the next re-incarnation?? Safety Equipment and Armourers.