So we are catching up with Jim Collison, well from the he's the commanding Officer of the R Double AF Darwin because Exercise Pitch Black twenty twenty two it is a three week multinational large force employment exercise. Now it's conducted from the R Double AF base here in Darwin and the Raft based Tindle from the nineteenth of August until the eighth of September. So the exercise, as I understand it, it does host up to two thousand and five hundred personnel and up to one hundred aircraft from seventeen nations including Canada, New Zealand, the UK, France, Indonesia, India, the Netherlands, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and the US. Now joining me on the line this morning to tell us more about the exercise is Commanding Officer of the R Double AF Darwin, Wing Commander Jim Collison. Good morning to you, Jim.

So we are catching up with Jim Collison, well from the he's the commanding Officer of the R Double AF Darwin because Exercise Pitch Black twenty twenty two it is a three week multinational large force employment exercise. Now it's conducted from the R Double AF base here in Darwin and the Raft based Tindle from the nineteenth of August until the eighth of September. So the exercise, as I understand it, it does host up to two thousand and five hundred personnel and up to one hundred aircraft from seventeen nations including Canada, New Zealand, the UK, France, Indonesia, India, the Netherlands, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and the US. Now joining me on the line this morning to tell us more about the exercise is Commanding Officer of the R Double AF Darwin, Wing Commander Jim Collison. Good morning to you, Jim.

Good morning Katie. How are you out here at Humpty Primary?

Good morning Katie. How are you out here at Humpty Primary?

Well, I was going to say before I ask you more about Exercise Pitch Black, I understand that you're actually out there at Humpty Doo Primary School with one of the hot.

Well, I was going to say before I ask you more about Exercise Pitch Black, I understand that you're actually out there at Humpty Doo Primary School with one of the hot.

Air balloons we have indeed. So we've got the hot air balloon. It's come all the way up here to Dowan from Canberra just to do some community engage me work with the primary school here and a number of other primary schools in the Northern Territory. So please excuse me if there's a little bit of noise in the background and the kids playing in whatever else.

Air balloons we have indeed. So we've got the hot air balloon. It's come all the way up here to Dowan from Canberra just to do some community engage me work with the primary school here and a number of other primary schools in the Northern Territory. So please excuse me if there's a little bit of noise in the background and the kids playing in whatever else.

No, that's totally fine. So do you roll in in the hot air balloon or what are you doing?

No, that's totally fine. So do you roll in in the hot air balloon or what are you doing?

I know, so I'm not actually sitting at the moment. What they've done is they've bought the basket out here with the burner so the kids can have a go and play with the burner on the basket there while it's heavily supervised of course, And they've got the balloon on its side on the oval here so that they can run around inside of the balloon, which is kind of exciting.

I know, so I'm not actually sitting at the moment. What they've done is they've bought the basket out here with the burner so the kids can have a go and play with the burner on the basket there while it's heavily supervised of course, And they've got the balloon on its side on the oval here so that they can run around inside of the balloon, which is kind of exciting.

Yeah, right, And I understand that the team's also going to be visiting Alowa Primary School, Nightcliffe Primary School, Gray Primary School and Jingly as well this way.

Yeah, right, And I understand that the team's also going to be visiting Alowa Primary School, Nightcliffe Primary School, Gray Primary School and Jingly as well this way.

Yeah, that's dirrect. Yeah, they're going to move around and provide the balloon for the kids to play on and to have a look at hopefully in support of the community up here in the northern country and Jim, are.

Yeah, that's dirrect. Yeah, they're going to move around and provide the balloon for the kids to play on and to have a look at hopefully in support of the community up here in the northern country and Jim, are.

They pretty excited when you.

They pretty excited when you.

Guys arrive most definitely. Yeah, there was lots of screaming and joy I think they were running around, especially when they get to touch that handle on the burner which makes big flame come out of the top. Lots of excitement there. How cool.

Guys arrive most definitely. Yeah, there was lots of screaming and joy I think they were running around, especially when they get to touch that handle on the burner which makes big flame come out of the top. Lots of excitement there. How cool.

Now let's talk about the exercise. I understand that there's going to be up to twenty five hundred personnel and up to one hundred aircraft from seventeen nations and a few new countries taking part this year as well for the first time.

Now let's talk about the exercise. I understand that there's going to be up to twenty five hundred personnel and up to one hundred aircraft from seventeen nations and a few new countries taking part this year as well for the first time.

Yeah, definitely. So you mentioned all a few of those other nations there earlier, but we've also got Germany, Japan, and the Republic of Korea who were coming over for the first time. They're bringing their fighter aircraft over with them.

Yeah, definitely. So you mentioned all a few of those other nations there earlier, but we've also got Germany, Japan, and the Republic of Korea who were coming over for the first time. They're bringing their fighter aircraft over with them.

And how important is it to you to help have all of these different nations take part.

And how important is it to you to help have all of these different nations take part.

Look, it's really important, Katie. We use this exercise as part of an international engagement program as well as enhancing our air combat capabilities and our air combat tactics and training that we do. It's an essential exercise for military training up here in the Northern Territory so that we can act on behalf of the Australian government if required to do so.

Look, it's really important, Katie. We use this exercise as part of an international engagement program as well as enhancing our air combat capabilities and our air combat tactics and training that we do. It's an essential exercise for military training up here in the Northern Territory so that we can act on behalf of the Australian government if required to do so.

Now, I know that the city is buzzing at the moment with tourists. Are where's everyone being accommodated? Where are all the personnel sort of staying.

Now, I know that the city is buzzing at the moment with tourists. Are where's everyone being accommodated? Where are all the personnel sort of staying.

We've got a number of personnels staying in town at different hotels, but we've also got other personnel being accommodated at various bases throughout the Northern Territory, including our own base there at Raft based Darwin, but also just down the road at Defense Derima.

We've got a number of personnels staying in town at different hotels, but we've also got other personnel being accommodated at various bases throughout the Northern Territory, including our own base there at Raft based Darwin, but also just down the road at Defense Derima.

Yeah right, So is there is there sort of a tent set up or anything like that at the Raft base or what has to happen?

Yeah right, So is there is there sort of a tent set up or anything like that at the Raft base or what has to happen?

No, at this stage, Look, we've brought in a lot of a lot of demoundable kind of facilities for them to be able to work in. But in terms of the accommodation, most of the people are able to be accommodated at WRAP based doing everything accommodation.

No, at this stage, Look, we've brought in a lot of a lot of demoundable kind of facilities for them to be able to work in. But in terms of the accommodation, most of the people are able to be accommodated at WRAP based doing everything accommodation.

Now, I think the big question that everybody wonders is what are they going to expect to see in the skies over the coming weeks as exercise or operation Pitch Black gets underway.

Now, I think the big question that everybody wonders is what are they going to expect to see in the skies over the coming weeks as exercise or operation Pitch Black gets underway.

Yeah, most definitely, Katie. Look, we're really excited to be able to present our Mindle Beach flyover on the twenty fifth of August. We're hoping that we'll get a lot of people out there on Mindle Beach being able to see a myriad of the different aircraft from all of the different countries flying over, some doing some blind displays and the like. And at the same time, on the twenty seventh of August, we've got an open day at rap Based Dowen where the majority of those foreign aircraft will be on display for people to come and have a look at and enjoy themselves.

Yeah, most definitely, Katie. Look, we're really excited to be able to present our Mindle Beach flyover on the twenty fifth of August. We're hoping that we'll get a lot of people out there on Mindle Beach being able to see a myriad of the different aircraft from all of the different countries flying over, some doing some blind displays and the like. And at the same time, on the twenty seventh of August, we've got an open day at rap Based Dowen where the majority of those foreign aircraft will be on display for people to come and have a look at and enjoy themselves.

And that's always a really important part of it, isn't it to make sure that the community is and I know that a lot of people, you know, are really very interested.

And that's always a really important part of it, isn't it to make sure that the community is and I know that a lot of people, you know, are really very interested.

Yeah, most definitely. Look, we know that we get great support of the Northern Territory community and we're really happy to be able to give back in a small way at least with these few activities that we can get the community involved and they can come out and view and enjoy the aircraft that are coming over here for exercise Pitch Black.

Yeah, most definitely. Look, we know that we get great support of the Northern Territory community and we're really happy to be able to give back in a small way at least with these few activities that we can get the community involved and they can come out and view and enjoy the aircraft that are coming over here for exercise Pitch Black.

Now, Jim, I know that there is always some people who are a little bit concerned about some of the noise. Can we expect some noise over the next couple of weeks when it gets underway.

Now, Jim, I know that there is always some people who are a little bit concerned about some of the noise. Can we expect some noise over the next couple of weeks when it gets underway.

Look, there will be noises as part of the exercise, Katie. I think it's important that the community understands the reason why we undertake exercises like Pitch Black. There are essential activities to ensure that the WRATH personnel and the international partners remain ready to respond to protect Australia's national interestypre required, and in doing so, we're also making sure that where possible, we limit the impact of is to the community by limiting speed of the aircraft, not using some of the after burners and stuff when we don't have to, and also minimizing the flying over the residential areas as much as possible. We appreciate that ongoing support from the community and that's part of the reason why we're trying to give back as much as we can now.

Look, there will be noises as part of the exercise, Katie. I think it's important that the community understands the reason why we undertake exercises like Pitch Black. There are essential activities to ensure that the WRATH personnel and the international partners remain ready to respond to protect Australia's national interestypre required, and in doing so, we're also making sure that where possible, we limit the impact of is to the community by limiting speed of the aircraft, not using some of the after burners and stuff when we don't have to, and also minimizing the flying over the residential areas as much as possible. We appreciate that ongoing support from the community and that's part of the reason why we're trying to give back as much as we can now.

Jim, I know that I've got a couple of text messages coming through from our listeners this morning who are very keen to find out when some of the aircraft might be taking off or you know, whether they're going to be able to see much from Amy Johnson drive there because the kids are apparently keen to see them taking off as well.

Jim, I know that I've got a couple of text messages coming through from our listeners this morning who are very keen to find out when some of the aircraft might be taking off or you know, whether they're going to be able to see much from Amy Johnson drive there because the kids are apparently keen to see them taking off as well.

Yeah, look, they probably will be able to view some of the aircraft once the exercise kicks off and is underway. The opening of the exercise on the nineteenth. I think the first flying begins around the twenty second of August, and there'll be essentially two waves of aircraft in the morning and again in the afternoon, so there should be an opportunity first thing, or not that first thing in the morning, but relatively early in the morning, and then just after lunch in the afternoon.

Yeah, look, they probably will be able to view some of the aircraft once the exercise kicks off and is underway. The opening of the exercise on the nineteenth. I think the first flying begins around the twenty second of August, and there'll be essentially two waves of aircraft in the morning and again in the afternoon, so there should be an opportunity first thing, or not that first thing in the morning, but relatively early in the morning, and then just after lunch in the afternoon.

Oh good stuff. Well, Jim, it does sound as though the kids are pretty excited out there at the school. I can hear plenty of action going on in the background. Good on you guys, have a great morning, and no doubt we'll catch up with you again soon.

Oh good stuff. Well, Jim, it does sound as though the kids are pretty excited out there at the school. I can hear plenty of action going on in the background. Good on you guys, have a great morning, and no doubt we'll catch up with you again soon.

Great and look forward to it. And thanks for support Katie, no worries, Thank you.

Great and look forward to it. And thanks for support Katie, no worries, Thank you.