A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan is in New Caledonia training for disaster relief as part of Exercise Croix du Sud 2018 (Ex CDS 18), 14-25 May.
Ex CDS 18 is based around a hypothetical tsunami scenario requiring aid and troops to be transported as part of a multinational Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) effort.
Accessing remote locations to deliver aid can be challenging, but not so much for the No. 35 Squadron C-27J aircraft whose bread and butter is landing on austere airfields.
Built to carry significant loads while still being able to land on unprepared runways not accessible by larger aircraft, the C-27J is suited to HADR-type missions. Ex CDS biennially brings together regional and non-regional nations to practice air, land and maritime interoperability to improve disaster response capability in the region.
Over 11 days, the C-27J and its crew will transport and work alongside troops from France (New Caledonia), Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Chile, the United Kingdom, the United States, Indonesia (observer), and Vanuatu Defence Forces.
Australian Defence Force participation also includes the KA350 King Air tactical utility aircraft, Australian Army Engineers, Royal Australian Navy vessels and a headquarters element of about 30 personnel.
May 24, 2018
Australian Department of Defence