Boeing Australia has been awarded contracts worth A$125 million ($96.7 million) to provide an interim commercial training service for Australian army helicopter aircrew ahead of the planned introduction of a new tri-service rotary-wing training system from 2011, writes Peter La Franchi.
The company - which beat a rival proposal from Eurocopter subsidiary Australian Aerospace - will provide direct training and support services from 1 September until August 2012. Signed on 27 April, the award includes an initial mobilisation payment of A$9.45 million covering the period until September this year.
The bulk of work will be carried out at the army's Oakey base in southern Queensland. It will include support for Bell OH-58 Kiowa trainers, as well as transition training support for Australian Army Boeing CH-47D Chinook and Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk transports. It will also incorporate support for training of Eurocopter Tiger and MRH90 aircrews as the types transition into army service.
Australia plans to roll out its Project Air 9000 Phase 7 combined services rotary-wing training system from 2011, with a competitive tender for the requirement due for release in early 2008.
Source: Flight International
