Royal Australian Air Force C130J Hercules A97-448 returned to NZ 21 November with a nocturnal run from Richmond to Ohakea and back.
Royal Australian Air Force C17 Globemaster III A41-211 arrived at Christchurch 22 November from Townsville. It departed late morning 23 November for Townsville.
Royal Australian Air Force C17 Globemaster III A41-206 arrived at Christchurch 23 November from Amberley and after a couple of hours on the ground departed for Townsville.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post from 21 November 2017:
Looks like the foreign component of flying equipment has exited "stage left" with the RAAF C130J Hercules A97-448 departing Ohakea for Richmond 20 November and RAAF Beech King Air 350 A32-437 departing Ohakea for Norfolk Island the same day. It continued to Amberley and Townsville 21 November.
RAAF C130J Hercules A97-447 made a brief visit to Christchurch 17 November arriving from Sydney and departing for Richmond. The Herk had overnighted Sydney after flying in from Townsville the previous day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post from 16 November 2017:
Exercise Southern Katipo 2017 is nearing its conclusion with the mainstay of heavy lift flying activity being conducted by the RAAF C130J Hercules A97-448 (see HERE) with it flying one or two missions each day. The RAAF King Air 350 A32-437 is also flying daily. The C27J Spartan A34-005 departed Ohakea on return to Richmond 11 November 2017 while the French Casa 235 departed Ohakea 10 November 2017 heading home to Noumea.
Thanks to Andy Heap for the next batch of photos as taken at Westport last weekend:
United States Army Gulfstream 5/C37A 05-1944 arrived at Christchurch from Pago Pago 14 November 2017 as PAT44 and its visit is reportedly associated with SK17. This airframe has visited NZ on numerous occasions -1944. It departed Christchurch 16 November heading to Guam/Andersen.
 |
| "1944" under lovely blue skies at Christchurch 14 November 2017. |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 02 November 2017:
A large number of images to share from the previous few days of activity. Thanks to those providing material for use!
The morning of 01 November 2017 saw the United States Air Force/Minnesota Air National Guard Lockheed C130H Hercules 95-1001 departed Ohakea heading for Pago Pago as "Gofer 01", its participation at SK17 obviously at an end. Also concluding its time with the exercise was United States Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III 99-0168 with it departing Ohakea 02 November for Kalaeloa/John Rodgers Field (aka the old Barbers Point NAS/Honolulu!).
Late afternoon 01 November 2017 saw Royal Australian Air Force Beech King Air 350 A32-671 arrive at Ohakea from Amberley via Norfolk Island. The King Air had flown to Amberley from Townsville the previous afternoon. It departed Ohakea for Norfolk Island 02 November.
The French Navy Falcon 20G #65 has been conducting local recon flights and appears to have visited Christchurch and using the callsign "JUDE" with varying numbers. The French Army Casa 235 #66 has also been out and about and heard to use the callsign "GAMBIT". The Falcon departed Ohakea for Noumea 02 November.
 |
| 66/52-ID during a brief visit to Wellington last month. |
 |
| 66/52-ID arriving at Whenuapai. |
 |
| 95-1001 short finals runway 03 Whenuapai after conducting parachute operations. |
 |
| 95-1001 on finals to land at Woodbourne. |
 |
| 99-0168 meanders down Woodbourne's runway under the watchful eye of its loadmaster. |
 |
| Feel the POWER! 99-0168 launches from Woodbourne. |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 30 October 2017 :
Military lift capacity is moving its focus to Westport as exercise Southern Katipo 2017 moves its area of operation to the South Island's western coastline. So far I understand Westport has not yet been visited by the USAF C17 Globemaster but it can be anticipated like years ago this will happen.
A second Royal Australian Air Force C27J Spartan turned up at Ohakea for a few days. A34-004 flew in from Richmond 28 October and returned to Richmond 30 October.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visiting foreign military aircraft associated with exercise "Southern Katipo 2017" have been bolstered in numbers with the arrival of two French participants arriving at Ohakea.
Falcon 20G Gardian #65 arrived early evening 24 October from Noumea and it was followed the next afternoon by Casa 235 #66, also arriving from Noumea.
Meanwhile the US and Australian contingents continue to keep busy providing liaison and battlefield lifting capacity with an airbridge formed between Whenuapai, Ohakea, Woodbourne and Christchurch.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 24 October 2017: |
| 99-0168 at Woodbourne 22 October 2017 - Gavin Conroy photo |
The aviation component of Southern Katipo 2017 upped the tempo late last week when the participants engaged in airlift activities supplying the military exercise's Marlborough component with support from Whenuapai, Ohakea and Christchurch. Multiple movements by RNZAF C130 Hercules, the USAF C130 Hercules and C17 Globemaster along with the RAAF Spartan were observed in and out of Woodbourne along with the RAAF King Air no doubt providing VIP transport alongside RNZAF examples. Three NH90's and a single Agusta A109 are located at Omaka while at least one SH2 Seasprite is being utilised from onboard the HMNZS Canterbury. Two of the NH90's were transported to the top of the South Island on board the "Canterbury" to provide real world logistics in deploying overseas.
 |
| NH90 on board HMNZS Canterbury docked at the Port of Nelson.Andy Heap photo. |
 |
| NH90 trio out in the woop woops at Omaka. Andy Heap photo |
 |
| Short finals Woodbourne, Andy Heap photo |
 |
| Gavin Conroy photo |
 |
| Gavin Conroy photo |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted 17 October 2017:
Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed C130J Hercules A97-464 visited Ohakea early evening 15 October when it arrived from Richmond and Amberley before heading back to Richmond.
United States Air Force Boeing C17 Globemaster III 99-0168 arrived at Ohakea around breakfast time 16 October as FROZN18, presumably from Hickam. The Elmendorf/AK based aircraft visited Whenuapai in September arriving from Andersen on the 17th and departed the next day.
Royal Australian Air Force Beech King Air 350 A32-437 made its way to Ohakea from Norfolk Island 16 October having flown from Townsville and Amberley the previous day.
Royal Australian Air Force Alenia C27J Spartan A34-005 arrived Ohakea mid afternoon 16 October direct from its Richmond base.
United States Air Force Lockheed C130H Hercules 95-1001 arrived Ohakea mid afternoon 16 October from Pago Pago and was heard to use the callsign "Gofer 01". This aircraft is operated by the 109th Airlift Squadron from the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard.
United States Air Force Lockheed C130H Hercules 95-1001 arrived Ohakea mid afternoon 16 October from Pago Pago and was heard to use the callsign "Gofer 01". This aircraft is operated by the 109th Airlift Squadron from the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Updated 14 October 2017:
Exercise Southern Katipo 17 (SK17) has already commenced with Royal New Zealand Air Force participation involved with transporting overseas troops to region from places like Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.
The first overseas aircraft participant to arrive for the exercise was Elmendorf/AK based Boeing C17 Globemaster III 00-0171 with the heavy lift transporter touching down at Whenuapai early afternoon 14 October from Guam/Andersen AFB as TREK305. This particular aircraft has previously deployed to NZ for exercises http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=00-0171
Its visit was brief with the aircraft departing for Pago Pago 15 October then to Andersen 16 October.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The New Zealand Defence Force will once again host the biannual joint military exercise with 13 countries participating. The area of operation will again focus on the top of the South Island as a continuation of Southern Katipo '15.
Coverage of past exercises can be found here: KATIPO
From the NZDF press release:
The main contingent will arrive at Blenheim Airport in military fixed wing transport aircraft, such as the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130H Hercules. You may also see a United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster and a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules parachuting loads onto selected drop zones in the exercise area. The RNZAF's NH90 and A109 helicopters will be based out of Omaka Airfield.
There’ll be a number of Navy Ships off the coast between Kaikoura and the Marlborough Sounds as other elements of the contingent arrive by sea over the beach in Okiwi Bay and across the wharf at Picton.
More than 2,000 military personnel from New Zealand and 13 other countries will descend on the top of the South Island at the start of October for an international exercise hosted by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).
Exercise Southern Katipo 17 (SK17), which runs from 2 October to 18 November, aims to test and evaluate the NZDF’s ability to plan and conduct joint operations involving a range of naval, land, and air assets. It will also involve military personnel from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Fiji, New Caledonia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Tonga, Timor Leste, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The exercise areas will be the West Coast, Tasman and Marlborough, extending south to Greymouth in the west and Kaikoura in the east.
The SK17 exercise scenario will be a continuation of that used in Southern Katipo 15, in which New Zealand deployed a military contingent to lead a multinational combined joint task force to will help restore law and order in a fictional South Pacific country called Becara. The multinational task force conducted stability, support and humanitarian operations, including the evacuation of internally displaced people.
However, the exercise director, Lieutenant Colonel Martin Dransfield, said in SK17 higher threat levels would be used to create more challenging training environments across the spectrum of operations.
“Opposition groups and challenges presented will allow for a range of military and non-military responses to be exercised, both individually as NZDF and collectively with other government agencies, non-governmental organisations and international partners,” Lieutenant Colonel Dransfield said.
As well as the international military partners, New Zealand organisations supporting the exercise will include the New Zealand Customs Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Police, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Transport Authority, Immigration New Zealand, Ministry of Health, District Health Boards, Red Cross and St John New Zealand.
SK17 would build on the cooperation achieved between the NZDF, other government agencies, non-governmental organisations and regional defence partners during recent humanitarian aid operations such as in Fiji and Kaikoura last year, Lieutenant Colonel Dransfield said.
Major General Tim Gall, Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, said SK17 would provide participants with a realistic portrayal of an emergency that might arise in the South West Pacific.
“In SK17 we will be dealing with challenges that commanders have to grapple with in real-world operations, such as exercising command and control over units that are operating in remote areas,” Major General Gall said.
“Our personnel are well-trained and ready to respond to any crisis at home or overseas. And through exercises like SK17 we get the chance to enhance our ability to operate effectively alongside other militaries.”
Lieutenant Colonel Dransfield said the success of such exercises owed much to the support and involvement of local communities.
“We use their land, ports, airfields and, in some cases, private farmland,” he said. “There was strong community involvement in Southern Katipo 15, with hundreds taking part as role-players in certain aspects of the exercise, and that will happen again this year.”
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will be holding a military exercise in the
northern part of the South Island over the period 20 OCT to 17 NOV 17 inclusive.
Increased military flying activity will occur from 18 OCT to 25 NOV 17 inclusive
due to pre and post exercise.
The exercise will include fixed wing operations by C-130, C-17, CASA 235, C27J,
King Air, Falcon Guardian and P-3K2 aircraft, rotary aircraft operations by NH90
and A109 helicopters and RPAS operations.
The fixed wing aircraft will be based at Ohakea and conduct operations into
Woodbourne, Westport and Greymouth aerodromes. They may also conduct
parachuting and load drops operations and low level flying down to a minimum
of 250 ft AGL.
The helicopters will initially be based at Omaka aerodrome, and from early
November are expected to be based at Westport aerodrome.
Intensive helicopter operations can be expected throughout the exercise area,
including in the vicinities of Kaikoura, Ward, Okiwi Bay, Dip Flat, Greymouth,
Westport and Reefton. RPAS operations can also be expected throughout the
exercise area.
Temporary aerodrome control services will be provided at Westport and Omaka
aerodromes
