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Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky Australia has been officially approved as an Aircraft Maintenance Training Organisation (MTO) by the Defence Aviation Safety Authority (DASA).
The firm is the second to be certified as an MTO and is now eligible to deliver type course aircraft training to its staff, defence and industry partners under DASA’s Defence Airworthiness Safety Regulations (DASR) Part 147 requirements.
This includes the training of Sikorsky and defence personnel on MH-60R (Romeo) and S-70A-9 (Black Hawk) helicopter platforms in both the avionics and mechanical trade categories.
“To be recognised as an MTO and meet Australia’s strict aviation training regulations, which are seen as a benchmark by many nations, is an important outcome for Sikorsky Australia and our customers,” Dale Hall, general manager of Sikorsky Australia, said.
“The MTO certification directly underpins our current operations to sustain the Romeo and Black Hawk helicopters in support of the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm and the Australian Army.
“The Romeos and Black Hawks provide critical defence capability for the RAN and the Australian Army to defend Australia’s national security.”
Hall continued, “Receiving MTO certification means that our training program will provide the highest level of quality and safety assurance in our aviation maintenance training to the RAN, our customers and the wider defence community.”
Sikorsky can now issue Romeo and Black Hawk Types Accreditation to participants upon completion of training, which the firm said would enhance the quality and safety standards of military aviation across Australia.
According to Sikorsky, its MTO offers a program of theory and practical based training and assessments for aircraft maintenance qualifications, in accordance with DASA’s compliance regulations.
The MTO program was developed by a team of Sikorsky’s aviation instructors over an 18-month period, in collaboration with DASA to ensure all elements of the training program from instructor guides, lesson plans, examinations, theoretical and practical modules aligned with DASA’s Part 147 regulatory standards.
“I’m proud of our training team for their sustained focus in successfully delivering a nationally recognised industry training curriculum in collaboration with DASA,” Hall added.
“DASA’s in-depth advice and ongoing support during our path of creating the training courseware was invaluable in helping us to achieve this positive outcome.”
Sikorsky’s maintenance and support facility in Albatross Aviation Technology Park houses through-life-support services for the RAN’s fleet of 24 Romeo maritime helicopters and support for the Army’s Black Hawk helicopters.
The Romeo fleet was built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, with the full fleet delivered to the RAN in 2016.
