The use of the Australian Defence Force in responding to domestic crises led to a delay in crucial training for aviation crews, an inquiry has been told.
Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs were killed when their MRH-90 Taipan plunged into the sea off the Queensland coast on July 28, 2023.
The helicopter, given the call sign Bushman 83, had been flying in formation with three others to Lindeman Island as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre.
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher McDougall, who was the commanding officer of the 5th Aviation Regiment between 2021 and 2022, said his former unit experienced capacity constraints due to their use in domestic operations.
"As a result of a support to these operations, we were delayed when we expected those milestones to be achieved," he told the inquiry into the deadly crash on Friday.
This meant there was a need for catch-up training.
Lt-Col McDougall said for Exercise Talisman Sabre held in 2021, the Townsville-based unit which operated Taipan choppers, had to reduce the amount of support they provided as a consequence of being called-out for domestic operations.
The defence strategic review released last year, warned using the military as a domestic disaster recovery agency detracted from "Defence’s primary objective of defending Australia".
A parliamentary committee has previously expressed alarm that more than half of all ADF members had been assigned to disaster relief in recent years.
The inquiry was told Lieutenant Nugent had spent less than 12 months at the 5th Aviation Regiment before he was posted to the 6th Aviation Regiment.
Lt-Col McDougall said he would typically expect a pilot to spend two to three years at his former unit before posting out.
In closing remarks, Counsel Assisting Colonel Jens Streit urged people to reflect and act upon the defence value of courage, and to help the inquiry if they can.
"I encourage the individuals ... to think about the people that have died and if they've got relevant information to come forward," he said.
Colonel Streit said the expectation an investigation into the crash by the Defence Flight Safety Bureau would be complete by the end of July was no longer the case.
He said it was his intention to call representatives from the bureau to give evidence once the investigation had been completed.
The inquiry continues, and will next hold public hearings in June.
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