Not since Cyclone Tracy in 1974 has a weather event as severe as Tropical Cyclone Fina impacted the Darwin coastline and the aviators who serve there.
Each year, two to three cyclones affect the top end of the Northern Territory, with few making landfall.
Aware of the region's vulnerability during the November to April cyclone season, aviators at RAAF Base Darwin routinely plan and prepare for high-risk weather events.
Fina was the strongest tropical cyclone to pass within 100km of Darwin since Tracy, and it tested the preparedness and resilience of Air Force's northern-based personnel.
As the National Warning Level advanced to the Yellow - Advice Stage, senior ADF officer RAAF Base Darwin and Curtin Wing Commander Lauren Guest assumed command of the base on November 20.
"The result was the transfer of all personnel and capabilities on base to within my command in order to focus on the mission at hand," Wing Commander Guest said.
The Airbase Operations Centre activated a 24/7 Emergency Operations Centre, and unit and detachment heads were briefed on the response plan in accordance with the base Cyclone Plan.
Aviators and civilian personnel focused on dispersing assets to safe locations, refuelling aviation tankers and securing equipment that could not be sheltered - all while ensuring their own personal and family preparedness.
Sharing the runway with Darwin International Airport, a joint decision on airfield closure was also required.
'We are so thankful of our aviators' commitment to service, even though for some that came at a cost of not being at home with their loved ones.'
On November 21, the region escalated to National Warning Level Orange - Watch and Act.
13 Squadron Security Forces assumed responsibility for access control, contractors and non-essential personnel were directed to leave after securing sites, and essential personnel prepared to relocate to on-base shelters.
"We tried to select personnel who were here without family or pets, however, this was not always possible," Wing Commander Guest said.
"We are so thankful of our aviators' commitment to service, even though for some that came at a cost of not being at home with their loved ones."
At 9.02am on November 22, the National Warning Level reached Red - Emergency Warning and access to the base was closed.
All 91 essential personnel and those residing in living-in accommodation on RAAF Base Darwin moved to shelters as Tropical Cyclone Fina approached Category Three strength, 50 kilometres off the Darwin coast.
Thanks to comprehensive preparation, RAAF Base Darwin withstood the impact of the severe wind gusts and heavy rainfall of Tropical Cyclone Fina.
Post-cyclone assessments reported fallen trees, damaged power lines and sections of perimeter fencing requiring repair.
The newly reconstructed main runway remained fully intact, and effective drainage systems prevented flooding, allowing air traffic controllers to resume operations almost immediately.
'The base only fared as well as it did because our community was dedicated to the RAAF Darwin Cyclone Plan and to service.'
Prior planning ensured contractors were engaged early and positioned on base ahead of most personnel to assist with post-cyclone recovery. Their efforts focused on restoring essential infrastructure, including access control and perimeter security.
RAAF Base Darwin has been on a preparedness journey across the spectrum of conflict this year.
While the focus was preparing for potential conflict, those warfighting processes also provided RAAF Darwin aviators with the resources and resilience needed to tackle any adversary, including high-risk weather events.
"I am so proud, thankful and impressed by what our community achieved, and what little guidance they needed to progress through the stages and deliver base functions and services," Wing Commander Guest said.
"RAAF Base Darwin was operational within hours of Tropical Cyclone Fina passing over. The base only fared as well as it did because our community was dedicated to the RAAF Darwin Cyclone Plan and to service."
While there were some lessons identified, they were minor in comparison to what the RAAF Base Darwin community did well.
What has been learnt will be incorporated into future planning to further strengthen the base's response capability in times of conflict and crisis.
