Will Provide Helo Flight, Maintenance Training And Support

Aero-News learned Monday Boeing Australia Limited was recently awarded a contract worth approximately AUD$110 million by the Commonwealth of Australia to provide helicopter flight and maintenance training as well as maintenance support services for Australian Army pilots and ground technical staff.

The five-year Army Aviation Training and Training Support (AATTS) contract consolidates several current contracts that support the Army Aviation Training Center, located at Oakey Air Base, Queensland. The contract has an option for five one-year extensions and is scheduled to begin in mid-2007.

Boeing Australia Limited President David Withers said the contract confirms the company's significant rotary wing capabilities, which until now have been focused on providing operational maintenance support for the Bell 206B-1 Kiowa training fleet at the Army Helicopter School at Oakey.

"For the past 13 years, Boeing Australia has provided the Australian Army with outstanding levels of aircraft availability and has worked to continually improve service delivery," said Withers. "This has positioned us well to execute the expanded scope of work in the AATTS contract. Using the expertise of our industry partners Australian Helicopters, CAE Pty Ltd and Ocean Software, we will be able to provide the Army with a consolidated and high-quality flying training service."

The training will use existing aircraft training systems, including Bell 206B-1 Kiowa and S-70-A Blackhawk helicopters. Boeing Australia also will provide maintenance support services and crash response and loadmaster training helicopters.

FMI: www.boeing.com/global/Australia/