Issue 262: In Transition

At the forefront of a new era of ADF helicopter ops

The program to develop Army’s new battlefield transport helicopter, the NH Industries MRH 90 is slowly gathering pace at the Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment (5 Avn Regt) base in Townsville. The joint user training group comprising Army and Navy aircrew, maintenance and support personnel is due to take delivery of its sixth MRH 90 shortly as it gears up towards Navy Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2010, and Army IOC in 2011. Australian Aviation recently spoke with the DMO’s Head Helicopter Systems, MAJGEN Tony Fraser about how the MRH 90 was coming along as well as about other key elements of the Air 9000 helicopter rationalisation plan.

Background

The multinational European NH 90 (for NATO Helicopter) program is currently holding orders for about 530 aircraft from more than 14 nations, including 46 MRH 90s (for Multi Role Helicopter) which were chosen to succeed two types in ADF service through three phases of the comprehensive Air 9000 project.