The Lion’s Share

The latest component repair awards have been granted to BAE Systems Australia, Northrop Grumman Australia, General Electric Aviation, MOOG Australia, RUAG Australia, NIOA, and Survitec.

The components covered include avionics, aircraft composites, electric components, valves, electro-optical sensors, auxiliary power units, hydraulics, landing gear, munitions and weapons, pumps, life support, and the canopy.

“This announcement again proves that our defence industry can equal and beat the best in the world when it comes to sustaining complex aviation assets,” Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne said in a statement.

“I welcome the United States Government’s further commitment to Australia as a regional hub for the maintenance of the F-35 JSF. ” The latest awards follow a 2017 announcement that the Asia Pacific warehouse for the F-35 would be located in Australia, and that air vehicle, propulsion and component MRO&U would also be performed here. Not only does this cover the RAAF’s 72 F-35As, but also potentially several hundred more F-35s to be operated by Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and forward-deployed USAF, US Navy and USMC aircraft.

“The collaborative approach taken by the Australian Government and industry has been the key to the success in securing additional F-35 sustainment work for Australian business,” BAE Systems CEO Gabby Costigan said.

“It will put Australia at the forefront of F-35 component sustainment.

“We look forward to working closely with the JPO and Lockheed Martin on delivering this additional part of our support to an exciting global program. ”

It will put Australia at the forefront. GABBY COSTIGAN

Northrop Grumman Australia interim chief executive Warren King added, “Northrop Grumman Australia continues to be fully committed to growing its incountry technical sustainment workforce and capabilities and this work will allow us to continue supporting the RAAF’s mission and the Australian defence industry at large.

“We are grateful to our industry teammates, the Australian JSF Division, the Commonwealth Government, and the US JPO for this recognition. ”

$245m Hawk contract sits with BAE

BAE Systems Australia has welcomed a two-year contract, worth $245 million, to continue sustaining the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Hawk Mk 127 Lead-In Fighter fleet.

The company will continue to sustain the Hawk fleet at Williamtown and RAAF Base Pearce in WA until at least 2022, with further potential performance-based extensions.

The role includes all deeper and operational-level maintenance, logistics and the management of the Australian supply chain for the program.

Hawk is the world’s most successful and proven advanced jet trainer with more than 1,000 aircraft ordered and delivered to 18 countries.

Using advanced airborne simulation technology, Hawk is a flying classroom that can put student pilots at the controls of a combat aircraft, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Reflecting the RAAF’s strategy to bring innovative asset management to sustainment, the contract sees BAE Systems Australia take on the role of platform steward for the Hawk which will see the company playing a critical role in the long-term availability and capability of the aircraft.

“The performance of the team supporting this project has been pivotal to securing this contract extension,” BAE Systems Australia Aerospace and Integrated Systems Director Steve Drury said.

“We have increased the work we do to support the aircraft, in parallel with a significant upgrade of the entire Hawk fleet and we have worked hard to reduce program costs.

“The Lead-In Fighter Capability Assurance Program upgrade ensures the aircraft is suitable for a fifth generation air force, preparing pilots for fast jets including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. ” The aircraft are operated by 76 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown and by 79 Squadron at Pearce.

The Hawk Mark 127 Lead-In Fighter is a tandem, two-seat jet aircraft.

It is used to prepare the RAAF’s fast jet aircrew for operational conversion to the F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-18 Super Hornet and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

BAE Systems delivers availability support and training to Hawk fleets operating with the UK Royal Air Force.

Lockheed Martin sovereign sustainment

Lockheed Martin and the Commonwealth have signed an agreement for Australian F-35 sovereign sustainment contracts, establishing Lockheed Martin as a key strategic F-35 sustainment partner for Australia.

The announcement, at the airshow, was made by Minister Pyne.

The Heads of Agreement provides a set of contracting principles for both the Australian Department of Defence and Lockheed Martin Australia to deliver ongoing F-35 sovereign contracts for the life of the Australian F-35A fleet.

‘As the maker of the F-35, no one knows the aircraft better. ’ VINCE DE PIETRO

The announcement builds upon the foundation of existing sovereign Australian Department of Defence F-35 contracts with Lockheed Martin Australia and provides a streamlined framework and conditions for the establishment of future contracts for F-35 sovereign capabilities. Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, Vince Di Pietro, said the agreement is the cornerstone of the partnership between Lockheed Martin and the Australian customer and will reduce red tape for all new contracts.

“This Heads of Agreement provides a fundamental pillar in Lockheed Martin’s long-term F-35 relationship with the Australian Department of Defence to deliver RAAF F-35 capability and is testament to our commitment in ensuring that the RAAF can meet its sovereign fifth generation aerospace combat capability needs. ” “Lockheed Martin Australia is excited to support the RAAF in the establishment of F-35A capability and to the ongoing provision of sustainment services in Australia in the years ahead, including technical, logistics, information systems and training support.

“As the maker of the F-35, no one knows the aircraft better. We are committed to the ongoing realisation of opportunities for RAAF personnel and Australian industry partners to develop skills in high-end roles, including the development of advanced technologies and sustainment for the F-35,” Di Pietro said.

Australian industry plays a significant role in the F-35 program with more than 50 Australian companies contributing to the global program of record of more than 3,000 aircraft.

To date, the F-35 program has secured more than 2,400 highly skilled jobs and created and generated more than $1. 3 billion in contracts for Australian companies.

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE

Air Vanuatu deal is a boost two ways

Avalon is not known for its history of purchase contract exchange between airlines and manufacturers.

That all changed this year with the announcement that Airbus had secured its first A220 customer in the South Pacific with Air Vanuatu to operate the regional jet from 2020.

Air Vanuatu signed a firm order for four A220s and purchase rights for a further four aircraft at the airshow.

It is anticipated it will receive two A220s in 2020, with the remaining two aircraft to be delivered in 2021 and 2022.

Air Vanuatu chairman Joel Lengsau said the aircraft would be used to boost frequencies on existing routes with further expansion to new domestic and international ports.

“The addition of the A220 into our fleet will give Air Vanuatu flexibility to increase our network and provide additional services to more destinations with a greater level of customer comfort,” Lengsau said.

“The new aircraft will also mean additional jobs for pilots and cabin crews, together with maintenance and ramp teams at airports.

“Today marks a wonderful beginning for Air Vanuatu and Airbus. ” The A220 was formerly known as the CSeries when the program was managed by Bombardier.

However, in October 2017 Airbus struck an agreement with Bombardier to become a partner and 50. 01 per cent majority shareholder in the CSeries, with Bombardier and the Quebec government’s investment arm, Investissement Québec, owning approximately 34 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively.

The deal was finalised on July 1 2018 and later in the month Airbus officially rebranded the CSeries as the A220 at an event held at its Toulouse headquarters.

Powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofans, the A220 family comprises two models – the A220-100 (100-135 seats) and A220-300 (130-160 seats), formerly Bombardier’s CS100 and CS300. The A220-100 has a range of 2,950nm when configured with 116 passengers, while Airbus lists the A220-300’s range on its website as 3,200nm with 141 passengers.

Air Vanuatu’s order comprised two A220-100s that will feature eight business and 100 economy seats, and two A220-300s with eight business and 125 economy seats.

Airbus executive vice-president for Europe, Africa and the Pacific Christopher Buckley said the A220 would “revolutionise the transport potential for Vanuatu.

“We at Airbus are looking forward to providing all kinds of support, all kinds of training to make this operation a fabulous success,” Buckley said.

“We are very proud at Airbus to be a part of all of this. ” Buckley said the A220 was well suited to this part of the world given its airfield performance, range and operating economics.

“The aircraft can fly for up to seven hours so enormous potential if you like for an area like the Pacific, where the distances are huge,” Buckley said.

“For years and years now in the Pacific the staple aircraft have been the A320 or the 737 but for many of the markets the aircraft are just too big. A lot of the frequencies are just two or three times a week.

‘The new aircraft will also mean additional jobs for pilots and cabin crews. ’ JOEL LENGSAU

“With a smaller aircraft you can then up the frequencies. ” At January 31 2019, the A220 had secured 532 orders from 20 customers, according to the Airbus website. Of those, 449 were for the larger A220-300 and 83 for the A220-100.

Notable operators include airBaltic, Korean Air and Swiss.

Currently, Air Vanuatu’s Australian network comprises Brisbane-Port Vila, Brisbane-Luganville and Sydney- Port Vila. Earlier in 2019, the airline announced it would begin nonstop Port Vila-Melbourne flights from June.

Qantas has its QF airline code on Air Vanuatu’s services to Australia.

Its other international destinations include Auckland in New Zealand, Nadi in Fiji and Noumea in New Caledonia.

Lengsau said new destinations under consideration with the arrival of the A220 included Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas said the Air Vanuatu order for A220s was part of the country’s “Shared Vision 2030”, which brings the national flag carrier, airports and other stakeholders under a united goal of growing the tourism sector.

“It is an important sector and we should continue to invest in this sector because we have more potential in tourism to offer and to discover in Vanuatu,” Tabimasmas said.

“That’s the reason why we decided to renew all of our fleet not just to service regional and international routes but also domestic routes in Vanuatu. ” Other tourism infrastructure upgrades included bringing the runway at Port Vila Bauerfield Airport up to Code E standard, meaning it will be able to take widebody aircraft such as the Airbus A330 or Boeing 787 on a regular basis.

Tabimasmas noted tourism represented about 40 per cent of the island nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). Vanuatu was also in discussions with Australia regarding an expansion of the current air services agreement to add extra capacity between the two countries.

According to the Australian Department of Infrastructure website, at December 2017 Air Vanuatu was utilising 1,360 of the4,000 available seats to the four major gateways of Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

HOVER CRAFT

Leonardo has a tilt at EMS

Italian-headquartered aerospace, defence and security company Leonardo is promoting the AW609 tiltrotor in an emergency medical services (EMS) configuration, promising to combine the strengths of fixed and rotary-wing platforms in a hybrid aircraft.

The company displayed a mock-up of the cabin of what is billed as the first civilian tiltrotor or ‘powered lift’ aircraft at the airshow and has been seeking feedback from potential EMS users about what form the fitout could take.

“Think of a King Air or a PC-12 that can hover,” says Bill Sunick, senior manager for AW609 marketing.

“We’re really excited here at Leonardo about it being the world’s first commercial tiltrotor; it really shows our dedication to innovation. ” The tiltrotor is able to take off and land vertically, and with its pressurised cabin it is capable of flying above bad weather at higher speeds and at greater ranges than a helicopter.

Boasting a maximum cruise speed of 275kts, the AW609 has a service ceiling of 25,000ft and a maximum range of 1,000nm (with auxiliary fuel).

Sunick said the AW609 would be able to complete both the ‘search’ and the ‘rescue’ elements of a SAR task, when otherwise it might take a fixed-wing aircraft to find someone in distress and then a helicopter to pick them up.

Other than EMS and SAR roles, other potential applications for the tiltrotor in the commercial sphere include VIP transport and work within the oil and gas industries.

Certification for the AW609 from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected by the end of this year, Sunick said.

The final prototype is expected to begin ground testing in May or June; meanwhile, the first production example of the aircraft is currently in assembly.

Leonardo is reluctant to talk about how many orders it has for the AW609, but in February last year the company announced that helicopter operator Era has agreed to be the launch customer for the commercial tiltrotor.

Era is due to take delivery of two aircraft in a nine-passenger utility configuration next year.