Helicopter Crewman
SGT Rachel Roxburgh
I wanted a career that 'really rocked'.
She found it as a No.3 Squadron helicopter crewman.
After spending more than 8 years as an aircraft technician SGT Rachel Roxburgh decided a change was in order and re-mustered to become the air force's second ever female helicopter crewman.
After seven months in the job she is enjoying the variety it brings, such as SARs, working with the Army and visiting schools. She says she wanted to become a HCM to get involved with search and rescue because she thought, 'it would really rock.' She hasn't been disappointed.
Her most memorable moment in her short HCM career came last year. Her crew was returning from a Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise when they got a call for a real SAR.
'It was great to be able to put your training into practice. We had been out on exercise and then to be doing it for real was all good.'
SGT Roxburgh says she really enjoys her mountain flying. Another highlight for her occurred in the Mount Cook area. Her crew had been working up near the Tasman Saddle; they had just dropped off the SAS and were continuing with their exercise.
'Getting up there and putting your feet where only experienced climbers usually get is just amazing.'
'It is great to work with a range of people and crews as you can learn from them and get different views on things. Everyone is quite individualistic. You can learn a lot from an experienced captain. Different crew have different views,' she says.
Having happily made it through 3 Squadron's shift from Whenuapai to Ohakea SGT Roxburgh is currently undertaking pre-deployment training, as she is off for her first tour of East Timor in the next rotation. She is keen to soak up the experience her three month tour has to offer.
'It is a different type of flying. I am really looking forward to it.'
Describing the training as 'pretty intense' SGT Roxburgh advises anyone who has considered becoming a HCM to 'give it a crack.' The HCM training takes about 10 weeks and includes, among other things, winch operation and underslung loads. SGT Roxburgh says the best part about her training, apart from getting her brevet, was seeing all the students on her course pass and getting a lot of good flying in.
'There is quite a bit of theory work. It's pretty full on. Depending on the flying schedule and the weather you can be doing up to three flights a day.'
She describes the work as 'physically quite hard' - much of the work involves scrambling around the deck of the helicopter or hanging out the side to get a better view of what's going on. But at the same time she says it's one of the best parts of the job to know you have 'worked your heart out.'
Other events SGT Roxburgh has been involved in include numerous school visits landing in Aotea Square for a tri-services parade in mid-2001.
'I enjoy the school visits. Probably the primary schools more because they listen and ask more sensible questions. Basically I like meeting the people,' she says.