Australian Army Aviation Australian Army Aviation ( AAAvn ) is a corps of the Australian Army , and was formed on 1 July 1968 with a strength of 106 officer pilots , although it has a history dating back to 1911 , when the Minister of Defence at the time , Senator George Pearce , decided there should be a flying school in the Defence Department . The motto of the Australian Army Aviation corps is Vigilance . The Aviation Corps utilises soldiers from various other Army corps . The Royal Australian Corps of Transport trains and provides air dispatchers , while the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers trains aircraft structural fitters , who maintain aircraft life support equipment , and avionics technicians . Members of the Aviation Corps are entitled to wear a sky blue beret . Colours . The design of the colour patch of the Australian Army Aviation Corps is based on the patch of the original Australian Army Flying Corps , from which the Aviation Corps was born . The three Aviation regiments have individual colour patches utilising the Corps patch . 1st Aviation Regiment ' s patch features a black rectangle in the centre of the Corps patch , 5th Aviation Regiment ' s patch features a black diamond in the centre , and 6th Aviation Regiment ' s patch includes a black oval . Equipment . Since November 2009 the Army ' s air assets are composed exclusively of rotary - wing aircraft ( helicopters ) , the Royal Australian Air Force ( RAAF ) operating Australian Defence Force ' s fixed - wing fleet . A limited number of fixed - wing aircraft were used by Aviation Corps , mostly in a surveillance role . A ceremony was held at RAAF Base Townsville on 20 November 2009 to transfer the last three fixed - wing aircraft from the Army to the RAAF . Rotary - wing aircraft . The MRH 90 ( Multi Role Helicopter 90 , an Australian variant of the NHI NH90 ) will replace the 5th Aviation Regiment ' s Black Hawk fleet . The aircraft are designed for use in a troop - lift role . The first test flight of an MRH - 90 was conducted at Eurocopter ’ s flight test centre in Marignane , France on 28 March 2007 . The first 13 of the total of 46 helicopters have been delivered but the remaining aircraft have been suspended until issues have been resolved . The first four being built in the main plant in France , the remainder built in Brisbane by Australian Aerospace . The MRH - 90 was chosen ahead of the UH - 60M Black Hawk . The Tiger ARH ( Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter ) was designed to provide significant reconnaissance and fire support in a combined arms team and is equipped with Hellfire missiles , 70 mm rockets and cannons . 22 Tigers will be delivered to the Army under the AIR 87 Project , built at the Australian Aerospace Brisbane facility . The S70A - 9 Black Hawk is operated by B Sqn in 5 Avn Regt , 171 Avn Sqn in 6 Avn Regt , and the Army Aviation Training Centre ( AAvnTC ) . Its tasks include tactical transport of infantry soldiers , search and rescue , medical evacuation , disaster relief and external carriage of heavy equipment including artillery howitzers and light vehicles . The Army ' s Black Hawks were manufactured in Australia by Hawker de Havilland , under licence from Sikorsky . The CH - 47D Chinook is operated by C Squadron , 5 Aviation Regiment . C Squadron was raised on the Army order of battle in June 1995 , on the return of the Chinooks to Australia after re - manufacture by Boeing USA . The Chinooks ' primary role is logistic and battlefield support . They can also be used in the troop - lift role . The current fleet of seven CH - 47Ds will be replaced by 7 new build CH - 47F from 2016 . The UH - 1H Iroquois ( Huey ) was used for the transport of soldiers and equipment , search and rescue , civilian disaster relief and minor logistics . The Iroquois are operated by A Squadron , 5 Aviation Regiment and the School of Army Aviation . After 39 years of service with the ADF , the last Iroquois was retired on 21 September 2007 . The Bell 206B - 1 Kiowa has been in service with the Army since 1972 ; its main roles being observation and rotary flying training . It is also utilised for the command and control of tactical aircraft , such as the F / A - 18 and F - 111 . They often work closely with artillery and armoured cavalry units . 19 of the Kiowa fleet is located in Oakey for use in training at the Army Aviation Training Centre ( AAvnTC ) , and a further 8 are permanently in Sydney with 173 Aviation Squadron at 6th Aviation Regiment . 24 – 27 of the Kiowa fleet are receiving an avionics upgrade and refurbishment ( including electronic LCD displays and twin navigation and voice GPS units ) during 2010 – 11 . Fixed - wing aircraft . Army Aviation operated fixed - wing aircraft for a period of almost 50 years , from taking delivery of Cessna 180 s in 1961 until November 2009 . 173 Surveillance Squadron , based at Oakey , was the last operator of fixed - wing aircraft , using three Beechcraft B300 King Air 350 s in Command and Control , Surveillance , and Transport roles . Other aircraft types operated were the Pilatus Porter , the GAF Nomad and the de Havilland Canada DHC - 6 Twin Otter . Training . Army pilot . Pilots are very carefully selected and undergo an intense and rigorous training program to produce the best quality officers and pilots for the Australian Army Aviation ( AAAvn ) Corps . Selection < br > Before training can begin , potential pilots must pass a battery of tests to determine their suitability to fly in the realm of military aviation . This includes aptitude testing , a multitude of hand - eye co - ordination tests , psychological evaluation , and numerous medical examinations ( including ophthalmological and dental examinations ) to maximise the quality and service longevity of selected potential future pilots . Throughout the selection process candidates are continually assessed for their character and suitability as future officers . Afterall , pilots are also officers and must display attributes of responsibility , integrity , professionalism , initiative , leadership , discipline , decisiveness , courage , morality , and loyalty at all times , to both their peers and to the men and women they lead . Suitable applicants are further scruitinized , and only those elite candidates that display the requisite potential are progressed to the next phase of selection , called the Flight Screening Program ( FSP ) , to deem if they are suitable to fly in the Army as officers . The FSP involves a two week flying course at the Australian Defence Force ' s expense and discretion to assess the suitability of the candidate as a potential officer and pilot , in the air environment under conditions of intense flying and instructing . The candidates are also assessed for their officer qualities in addition to their ability to handle their platform in airspace . Initial Officer Training < br > Once the candidate has passed the FSP the new recruit is enlisted as an " Officer Cadet " ( rank OCDT ) and begins their initial officers ' training at the Royal Military College , Duntroon ( RMC - D ) in Canberra . At RMC - D the new recruit studies subjects such as Army tactics , military customs and ethics , drills , first aid , communication , weapons training , service discipline law , and leadership and management training , to name a few . This course encompasses either : < br > ( i ) approximately 6 weeks of training if undertaking the Specialist Service Officer ( SSO ) pilot scheme , or < br > ( ii ) approximately 18 months of training if undertaking the General Service Officer ( GSO ) course . Basic Flight Training < br > Upon graduating from RMC - D the pilot trainee begins their basic flight training course at the Basic Flying Training School ( BFTS ) in Tamworth for fixed - wing flight training of approximately 6 months duration on the CT - 4B trainer aircraft ( PAC CT / 4 " parrot " ) . The BFTS course encompasses both an extensive ground training program ( such as airmanship , aerodynamics , aircraft systems , aviation medicine , air power , air traffic control , radio , meteorology , navigation , morse code , instrumentation , and cockpit systems , etc . ) as well as an intensive flight training course ( including general flying , instrument flying , night flying , navigation , aerobatics , formation flying , and emergency handling ) . Basic Helicopter Training < br > Upon graduating from BFTS , students begin their Basic Helicopter Training at the Oakey Army Aviation Centre in Oakey , Queensland , which is composed of the Helicopter Conversion Course ( HCC ) of 3 months duration followed by the Helicopter Tactics Course ( HTC ) of 3 months duration . Upon completion of this Basic Helicopter Training course , pilot recruits are awarded their provisional Army flying badge ( " flying wings " ) and promoted to the rank of " Second Lieutenant " . Operational Helicopter Training < br > After being awarded their flying wings , pilot trainees move on to their specific type of aircraft for Operational Helicopter Training . Although the type of operational aircraft flown is somewhat influenced by the trainee ' s preference for a particular aircraft , this decision is primarily at the discretion of the Qualified Flying Instructors ( QFI ' s ) that have closely observed the student ' s temperament , abilities , aptitudes and strong points in airmanship . This decision is also influenced by the needs of the Army , and ultimately the Army ' s need ( s ) to fulfil a particular role takes precedence over personal preference or interests . Training to fly an operational helicopter requires that a student pilot undergo the Operational Type Transition Course ( OTTC – of 3 to 4 months duration ) and the Regimental Officers ' Basic Course ( ROBC – of 3 to 6 months duration depending on aircraft type ) to effectively transition or convert the new pilot to their new role in the appointed aircraft type . The OTTC consists of up to 50 flying hours of transition training to acquaint the newly appointed pilot to their designated aircraft type . The ROBC consists of 30 to 40 hours of tactical flying ( depending on helicopter type ) to effectively teach the new pilot to opearte the aircraft in support of Army and ADF units . Upon completion of the ROBC , graduating trainees are promoted to the rank of " Lieutenant " and are posted to an operational aviation unit . Aviation Corps trades . There are two specialisations available to soldiers in the Aviation Corps , Groundcrewman Aircraft Support and Groundcrewman Mission Support . Training for both is in addition to 80 days of basic training , undertaken at the Army Recruit Training Centre , Kapooka . Groundcrewman aircraft support . Basic groundcrewman aircraft support training consists of three individual courses , totalling approximately 19 weeks . The first course conducted is a basic drivers course where soldiers gain qualifications in operating the Army Landrover 110 and Unimog truck . This lasts for 38 days and is held at Puckapunyal in Victoria . The next course to be completed is the two week bulk fuel tanker course held at the Army Logistic Training Centre at Bandiana in Victoria . This course involves instruction in operating bulk and portable refuelling equipment and fuel quality control . The final course , and longest in duration at 9 to 12 weeks is the forward arming and refuelling course , held at the Oakey Army Aviation Centre in Queensland . Here soldiers are taught aircraft refuelling and arming operation both in the barracks and field environment . After two years as a Groundcrewman , a soldier can request to be transferred to become helicopter aircrew as a " Loadmaster , Crew Chief " . Throughout their career , Groundcrewman Aircraft Support also attend the following courses as part of their career development and trade proficiency : Groundcrewman mission support . Training for groundcrewman mission support also consists of three courses , and runs for approximately 15 weeks . The first course , as with groundcrewman aircraft support , is the basic drivers course . The second course is a specialist combat communications course of four weeks duration , held at Oakey Army Aviation Centre . Here soldiers learn to use and maintain service radios , antenna theory and configuration . The second course is the six week command post operator course , also held at the Army Aviation Training Centre . As with Groundcrewman aircraft support , soldiers employed as groundcrewman mission support may also attend further courses throughout their career . These include a comsec custodian course ; an information systems course ; an advanced combat communicators course ; and a workplace assessor course .