RAAF Search and Rescue (CHC Helicopters) Agusta AW139 Helicopter VH-SYJ "Choppa 32" Arrives at Rockhampton Airport

On Thursday 24 May, CHC Helicopters Australia / Lloyd Helicopters Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-SYJ was noted arriving into Rockhampton Airport.  It arrived into Rocky all the way from RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria via Mudgee and Moree and was heard to use the radio callsign of "Choppa 32".

VH-SYJ arrives into Rockhampton Airport last year  (File photo)

The Agusta operates for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in a Search and Rescue (SAR) role by CHC Helicopters / Lloyd Helicopters.

It is believed that VH-SYJ "Choppa 32" has come to Rocky to join fellow RAAF Search and Rescue (SAR) (CHC Helicopters Australia / Lloyd Helicopters) Sikorsky S-76A helicopter VH-LHZ which arrived into Rockhampton Airport 11 days ago as "Choppa 41".

Both helicopters are at Rocky in support of the RAAF Pilatus PC-9/A Forward Air Command (FAC) aircraft which are completing daily sorties from Rockhampton Airport to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) as a part of a land/sea joint military training exercise which is currently underway.

UPDATE!  On Friday 25 May, VH-SYJ "Choppa 32" reportedly departed Rockhampton Airport heading North to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

Photo taken by Kayanne Hardsman  ©