Training days

The evolution of the ADF’s Air 5428 New Pilot Training System and Air 9000 Phase 7 Helicopter Aircrew Training Scheme (HATS) through the White Paper and follow-on 2009-2019 DCP processes will be interesting to observe.

Air 5428 aims to replace the current BAE Systems Australia BFTS arrangement (see article from p46), which utilises the VH registered PAC CT-4B and the military Pilatus PC-9/As of 2FTS, with a new contractor supported system from 2012. Air 9000 Phase 7 has similar aspirations for the common replacement of the Army helicopter training school’s Bell 206B Kiowa based syllabus, and the Eurocopter AS 350BA Squirrels of Navy’s 723SQN.