US Carrier Undertakes Maintenance In Fremantle

US Carrier Undertakes Maintenance And Training In Fremantle

The Australian Government has approved a visit to Australia of the United States Navy Carrier Battle Group led by the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. US authorities are using this visit to conduct routine repairs including resurfacing the carrier's flight deck.

A number of US Navy aircraft have relocated to RAAF Pearce so that they can maintain operational flying expertise while the carrier's flight deck is out of service.

This flying training will include use of the Lancelin Defence Training Area for bombing practice.

While using the Lancelin Defence Training Area US Navy planes will comply with all ADF safety requirements. Live ordnance will not be used on the range. There will be no supersonic flights and low flying will be kept to a minimum.

In accordance with normal practice, advertisements have today appeared in the West Australian press advising residents of the impending activity.

The WA Government was first advised by Defence on Monday January 6 of the USN request.

On Tuesday January 7 Defence contacted all available members of the Lancelin Management Advisory Committee (the local community consultative forum) and advised of the request. On the same day, a Defence representative discussed the USN request with the Parliamentary Secretary to the WA Premier.

On Wednesday January 8 the WA Government was notified by both Defence and the Minister for Defence's office of the Minister's approval of the USN request and was also advised that a public announcement would be made on January 9 (today).

Lancelin Defence Training Area is one of Defence's many gazetted training areas that are used by the ADF and other foreign defence forces for weapons training. Foreign defence forces, including the US Navy, have made use of Australian training areas on many past occasions.

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