THE last three years have been an extremely exciting time to be at HMAS Albatross according to former Commander Fleet Air Arm Commodore Chris Smallhorn.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Commodore Smallhorn has taken up a post in Canberra in Contestability, where he will evaluate new pieces of equipment for the Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Army before making recommendations to investment committees and government.
“It is a completely different role,” he said.
“Firstly, it’s not navy. And it just won’t be aircraft - it could be anything from tanks, to combat equipment through to even a fire truck.”
At 46 he was one of the youngest, if not the youngest to take up the role as COMFAA.
“This [Albatross] is a tough place to leave,” he said.
Read more:
“This has been home on and off since 1991 when I initially came here as a young aeronautical engineer.”
From there he progressed into flying.
“I was lucky to come into the COMFAA role at a relatively young age,” he said.
“And what a time to be in charge of the Fleet Air Arm?
“The last three years have been fantastic - a time of great change for the FAA with new equipment, new squadrons etc and also a great time of change at Albatross.
“This has been an amazing experience and a honour. I don’t see the Fleet Air Arm working for me, I see me working for the sailors and the officers to make sure we create an environment where they can get the job done.
I couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved in three years.
- Commodore Chris Smallhorn
“This has been an enjoyable role of servitude.”
He easily rates this as the highlight of his naval career.
“I don’t think anything can surpass the honour given to be in command,” he said.
“The organisation doesn’t work for me, it’s the other way round I work for the organisation. This has just been incredible.”
He said the last 10 years had been a special time for the FAA.
“We have had the full recapitalisation of naval aviation and a lot of that has come into being in the past three years,” he said.
“It’s been an amazing time to be involved.”
All 24, 60 Romeo Seahawk Helicopters have arrived, with all eight fights formed which have either embarked or are ready to embark; 723 Squadron the Helicopter Training System is up and running including 15 EC135 helicopters (replacing the Squirrel) in the air; 808 Squadron has three full flights of MRH-90 helicopters operating; while the new squadron, 822X unmanned aircraft has also been established.
Read more:
“The 822X Squadron wasn’t even dreamt of when I started this job three years ago,” he said.
“It is incredible how far it has come with the S-100 Camcopter (rotary) and ScanEagle (fixed winged) aircraft.
“Three years ago we didn't have any of the new black and yellow EC135 helicopters or any of the facilities for the helicopter training facility like buildings or simulators which now train all the helicopter pilots for both navy and army.
“The 725 Squadron is doing some great work with the Romeos, they are an amazing piece of machinery. What they achieved earlier this year in Scotland at the NATO anti-submarine warfare exercise was astounding.
“The guys from 808 have been outstanding, their work both in military endeavour but also hazard assistance and disaster roles has been incredible.”
He also praised navy's Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials Unit (AMAFTU) saying their contribution had been extremely valuable and the number of experimental flight tests conducted for both the RAN and working with other countries had been amazing.
CDRE Smallhorn said the introduction of unmanned aircraft had been exciting and he saw the roles of the S-100 and ScanEagle complimenting the force’s current range of helicopters.
“We do have challenges with manned aircraft, things like flight times and pilot fatigue,” he said. “If we can integrate the use of the unmanned aircraft with our manned helicopters they can support each other and become value adding.
“We have been doing a lot of trials with both aircraft - they have been deployed to the Middle East and to operations off Christmas Island. We have done a great deal of operation in the maritime tactical space.
Personnel of the Fleet Air Arm and all at Albatross continue to rise to the occasion.Some missions they are sent on are hard. They take courage, skill and intellect. They are often complex endeavours, using multiple aircraft and platforms across the globe. They just make things tick along.
- Commodore Chris Smallhorn
“It is an exciting development but it really isn’t anything new - we [navy] has been using unmanned aircraft since the 1960s and in research roles much earlier than that.”
But he conceded their development and continued growth both in technology and popularity, even in the public sector, could lead to a whole new type of person being attracted to the navy.
“It will be exciting to see the next generation just as it has been watching the current generation of personnel evolve,” he said.
He said he didn't expect to see a fully automated helicopter developed to replace crewed aircraft in full time operation for a long while.
“There is a way to go on that front but do I see it happening? Definitely,” he said.
“The big question is, like with airlines, the technology is there to have the aircraft flown by computers, but is the public ready for that.
“I think it will be a long time until the public will be comfortable to trust technology to fly the aircraft with no human intervention.
“That is just human nature as we explore human endeavour. That trust will come.”
Read more:
He said the thing he would most reflect on from his time at COMFAA was the way personnel of the Fleet Air Arm and all at Albatross continue to rise to the occasion.
“At times they face extremely difficult and dangerous challenges but they always rise to meet those challenges,” he said.
“I will always remember how these extraordinary personnel get on and do what they do, both as military personnel and members of our local community.
“Some missions they are sent on are hard. They take courage, skill and intellect.
“They are often complex endeavours, using multiple aircraft and platforms across the globe. They just make things tick along.
“I couldn’t be prouder.”
He has been replaced by Commodore Don Dezentje in the role of COMFAA.
While he will be based in Canberra CDRE Smallhorn will not be lost to the South Coast, with the family continuing to have a home at Gerroa.