Fleet Air Arm
Association of Australia
Navy Pilot flies
Army Black Hawks
2 September 2007
A Navy pilot is working closely with his Army aviation counterparts in Timor-Leste to assist in restoring peace to the troubled country.
Lieutenant Matthew Seymour is a junior aircraft captain and is flying the Army's Black Hawk helicopters supporting the infantry by moving them and supplies to the outer provinces.
LEUT Seymour said he volunteered for the role when learned there was a vacancy for a Black Hawk pilot.
"I jumped up and down for the three-year posting, and five days later I moved states and started training," he said.
"I really like this job and it's very different to what the Navy does, and one of the best aspects is using the night vision goggles. Conducting a formation flight with the goggles is scary, but really challenging."
Apart from some friendly bantering between the services, LEUT Seymour said it's been fantastic working with his Army colleagues on operations and they have been accepting of him as a member of the Navy.
"Most of the guys can take it as good as they can give it," he said.
"I found they worked hard to keep me involved with the Squadron and as part of the troop working along side them."
LEUT Seymour has been in Timor Leste with the Timor Leste Aviation Group as part of the International Stabilisation Force. This is his second deployment in the country.
He has been busy flying tasks such as moving the quick-response force to critical areas at short notice, including the recent operation to move ISF troops to the east of the country following an outbreak of the civil unrest in the region.
"We had to fly around to where the action was and insert the troops in the right area and remain overhead and talk with them to ensure they were OK," LEUT Seymour said. "That was a good experience."
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