Australian military aircraft have continued to play a major role in the air bridge that links Solomon Islands during its national elections, moving police, military and civilian specialists from multiple countries into and around Solomon Islands.
RAAF C-130J Hercules and C-17 Globemaster aircraft regularly fly into Honiara International Airport, while C-27J Spartan aircraft deliver personnel and cargo to outlying airfields.
Squadron Leader Craig O'Malley, of 382 Squadron, said the team of Air Force and Army members on the ground helped new arrivals quickly clear immigration and customs so they could get to work.
"Everyone has been working hard to ensure it's a smooth process," Squadron Leader O'Malley said.
Over the weeks leading up to the elections, the team has unloaded tonnes of cargo from aircraft, often in either sweltering heat or the occasional tropical torrential downpour.
One particularly challenging piece of cargo was a Bell 412 helicopter that was loaded onto a C-17 and flown in for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
Private Jordan Schooth, of 1st Joint Movements Unit, said the many complex tasks had been professionally rewarding.
"It took a lot of people and coordination to move the helicopter," he said.
"We had to be really careful because of its long tail. We had to make sure it didn't hit the ceiling inside the C-17 when we were rolling it out of the aircraft and onto the ground."
All the activity has also presented training opportunities. Local firefighters employed at Honiara International Airport received a familiarisation tour on a C-27J Spartan and learned how to work with deployed ADF personnel.
About 300 ADF members have deployed to support Solomon Islands to facilitate a safe and secure election period.
Election observers from Australia also took time to visit deployed ADF personnel. Federal and state members of parliament, as well as other representatives of the Australian Government toured a C-27J Spartan to learn how it is being used to deliver and collect ballots from remote airfields.
The observer tour also provided a chance for old friends to reunite. Finance officer Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Lam, of 17th Brigade, was excited to see NSW Member for Blacktown Stephen Bali. They went through Army training together as recruits at Kapooka in 1996.
