RAAF personnel have started training on the Alenia Aermacchi C-27J tactical transport following the transfer of the first two aircraft to the Australian registry.

“A total of 10 aircraft will be delivered over the next two years, operated by No. 35 Squadron initially from RAAF Base Richmond,” says air commodore Mike Kitcher. “The C-27J will integrate seamlessly with existing Defence transports such as Army’s CH-47 Chinooks and Air Force’s C-130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster III.”

The training is taking place at Waco, Texas. Four technicians commenced training on 8 December, and 12 aircrew, including pilots and loadmasters, will commence training in January.

The first examples of will arrive in Australia in the middle of 2015, say Australia’s Department of Defence in a statement.

The statement adds that the C-27J will allow the RAAF to operate from airfields where is unfeasble to operate larger types, such as the C-130J.

Source: FlightGlobal.com

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