Metricon Stadium became the focus of an Australian Army training exercise this week with three Black Hawk helicopters put through a series of precision exercises in and around the home of AFL on the Gold Coast.

Three battlefield helicopters made a series of high speed transitions into the playing arena, stopping just short of the playing surface during a phase of the Australian Defence Force’s counter terrorism simulation program.

Australian Defence Force Lieutenant and Blackhawk Pilot – Glen Little, told goldcoastfc.com.au the day/night training drill would give his air crew invaluable experience in further developing their skills in the metropolitan district. 

“The Special Operations course we conducted will vastly help our team develop their skills and help us improve our flying in complex targets,” he said.

Given a private tour of the stadium precinct, Little said the opportunity to utilise Metricon Stadium for the simulation was too good to refuse. 

“The Stadium gives us a really great opportunity to practise in complex areas, especially with the light poles, which effectively helps our pilots further hone their skills in the air.”

The Special Operations exercise, led by the army’s 6th Aviation Regiment, tested response times of the country’s leading air support teams with entry, activation and exit times recorded from every possible entry point around the precinct during the day and at night. 

Metricon Stadium Operations Manager – David Bennett, said the stadium’s latest visitor further illustrated the GC SUNS ambition of opening up the precinct for activities outside it’s usual match-day operations, with the stadium already set to host the Big Day out music festival and 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“We have always wanted to be a community asset,” Bennett said.

“This was just another great opportunity to extend that, and offer the Defence Force the chance to simulate some of their activities which they wouldn’t normally get to do.”

“The response was amazing and it was great to see what the 6th Aviation Regiment does to improve their defensive mechanisms for our country.”