RAAF Search and Rescue (CHC Helicopters) Sikorsky S-76A Helicopter VH-LAH Pops into Longreach Airport

It is believed that on Monday 26 June, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Search and Rescue Sikorsky S-76A helicopter VH-LAH passed through Longreach Airport while returning to RAAF Base Amberley from RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.  It arrived from Burketown and Cloncurry and departed to Charleville where it will spend the night.

File photo

It is expected that VH-LAH will continue to Amberley via Roma Airport on Tuesday 27 June.

VH-LAH is owned by Lloyd Helicopters and operated by CHC Helicopters Australia, and is one of a number of choppers used for RAAF Search and Rescue jobs. On this flight it was heard to be using the radio callsign of "Chopper 41".

VH-LAH is heading back to Amberley following a deployment to the Northern Territory where it provided a support role during the RAAF's Exercise Diamond Storm.  The Exercise, hosted by the RAAF, is one of the practical components of the air warfare instructors course (AWIC), whose graduates are experts in Australian Defence Force (ADF) capabilities and integration across the services, and have technical mastery of their own roles, platforms and systems.

Photo taken by Col  ©