Operations Sloshed but the Vigor Lingers On
11:02am on Thursday 25th August 2011
24 August 2011, Ratmalana Air Force Base, Sri Lanka. - Into the third day of the Pacific Air Rally 11, the skies just took a dramatic turn for the worse. Even before the rays of dawn reached down, the heavens opened their sluice gates unleashing a torrential downpour. With wind speeds gusting up to 25 knots the fleet of C 130 Hercules lay still at the parking apron looking awfully helpless.
The day was scheduled to be packed with much frenzy and action with all six aircraft joining in the air drops. The Sri Lanka Air Force airborne troops were eager and ready to go on board the USAF C 130 for an “American Jump”. The Australians, Malaysians, and Americans along with the Sri Lankans had prepared their “disaster relief” cargo and it was a matter of time before they would be loaded. During the brief intervals between two bursts of showers the crew would hurry on to the aircraft anticipating that the skies would turn fairer. The endless parade of dark plump clouds rolling in with the wind meant that the weather held its sway. In the chilly morning winds that accompanied the rain, the entire contingent of the field training exercise (FTX) had no choice but to seek the comfort of shelter within the No 2 Squadron hangar and the company of each other to get through the day.
All was not lost however, as the hype and frenzy in place today was of a different frequency. Today being media day it was the ideal opportunity for the entire contingent to put their public relations skills to the test. Media personalities from reputed media establishments were carefully escorted into the hangar. The overall exercise co-coordinator and Base Commander of SLAF Base Ratmalana, Air Commodore Sumangala Dias welcomed the media contingent and introduced them to the other representatives. The country representatives of Australian, Malaysian and US Air Forces also gave them a brief introduction. The media team were then “let loose” in the hangar where they were free to go and “investigate” as they deemed appropriate.
The US team was seen eagerly describing their doctrine of operation using the cargo pellet whilst the Australian team were seen demonstrating the Helibox. The media frenzy brought in a lively atmosphere to the exercise which otherwise would have turned dull due to the torrential downpour which was relentlessly beating upon Ratmalana.
The Media team was then accompanied to the Mount Lavinia hotel, where they were given a quick tour around the control room exercise. Whilst the planners were seen busy calculating and formulating, the media managed to get a silent overview. After the lunch session, which was served at Ratmalana, the media team, under the auspices of a temporary pause in the rain, managed to get a first hand exposure on to the Royal Australian Air Force C 130 J.
With the weather not prepared to give up, the aircrew of all four nations decided to call it a day. Hence, with the exercises postponed, the field training exercise had no other choice but to go for an early retirement for Day No. 3.
Flight Lieutenant Shyam Ranasinghe SLAF for SLAF Media
The day was scheduled to be packed with much frenzy and action with all six aircraft joining in the air drops. The Sri Lanka Air Force airborne troops were eager and ready to go on board the USAF C 130 for an “American Jump”. The Australians, Malaysians, and Americans along with the Sri Lankans had prepared their “disaster relief” cargo and it was a matter of time before they would be loaded. During the brief intervals between two bursts of showers the crew would hurry on to the aircraft anticipating that the skies would turn fairer. The endless parade of dark plump clouds rolling in with the wind meant that the weather held its sway. In the chilly morning winds that accompanied the rain, the entire contingent of the field training exercise (FTX) had no choice but to seek the comfort of shelter within the No 2 Squadron hangar and the company of each other to get through the day.
All was not lost however, as the hype and frenzy in place today was of a different frequency. Today being media day it was the ideal opportunity for the entire contingent to put their public relations skills to the test. Media personalities from reputed media establishments were carefully escorted into the hangar. The overall exercise co-coordinator and Base Commander of SLAF Base Ratmalana, Air Commodore Sumangala Dias welcomed the media contingent and introduced them to the other representatives. The country representatives of Australian, Malaysian and US Air Forces also gave them a brief introduction. The media team were then “let loose” in the hangar where they were free to go and “investigate” as they deemed appropriate.
The US team was seen eagerly describing their doctrine of operation using the cargo pellet whilst the Australian team were seen demonstrating the Helibox. The media frenzy brought in a lively atmosphere to the exercise which otherwise would have turned dull due to the torrential downpour which was relentlessly beating upon Ratmalana.
The Media team was then accompanied to the Mount Lavinia hotel, where they were given a quick tour around the control room exercise. Whilst the planners were seen busy calculating and formulating, the media managed to get a silent overview. After the lunch session, which was served at Ratmalana, the media team, under the auspices of a temporary pause in the rain, managed to get a first hand exposure on to the Royal Australian Air Force C 130 J.
With the weather not prepared to give up, the aircrew of all four nations decided to call it a day. Hence, with the exercises postponed, the field training exercise had no other choice but to go for an early retirement for Day No. 3.
Flight Lieutenant Shyam Ranasinghe SLAF for SLAF Media
