New crashworthy seats for the Australian Army’s CH-47 Chinook helicopters have been showcased by QinetiQ Australia at the Avalon Airshow. Three of the seats, developed as part of the main cabin upgrade (MCU) project for the Army Aviation Systems Program Office (AASPO), are on display at QinetiQ Australia’s Avalon exhibit. This content is available exclusively
The first Airbus Helicopters EC135 T2+ helicopter destined for the Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) fleet has completed its first flight. The first of 15 twin-engine helicopters (serial number 1179) took off from the Airbus Helicopters production site in Donauwörth, Germany on January 16, and landed 57 minutes later. The aircraft wears a high-visibility gloss
The ADF has released a redacted commission of inquiry (CoI) report into the crash of an Army CH-47D Chinook in Afghanistan on May 30 2011 which resulted in the death of Army LT Marcus Case. LT Case had recently arrived in Afghanistan to join the Kandahar-based Heron RPV detachment. He was riding on the open rear
Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) and Airbus Helicopters have signed a contract for Airbus to provide 15 Airbus EC 135 T2+ helicopters for the ADF’s AIR 9000 Phase 7 helicopter Aircrew Training System. Announced as the preferred bidder late last year, the Boeing and Thales Australia team signed a contract with the Commonwealth on October 31
Defence Minister Senator David Johnston has formally declared the team comprising Boeing Defence Australia and Thales Australia as the winning tenderer of the Project AIR 9000 Phase 7 Helicopter Aircrew Training Systems requirement. The announcement comes some 10 months after Defence confirmed to Australian Aviation sister publication DIAR by ADBR that the Boeing/Thales teaming had been
The acquisition of an interim Tactical Data Link for the Australian Army’s ARH Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters has been approved by Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston. A total of 21 helicopters are set to be upgraded. The project, which is valued at less than $20 million, will inform the assessment of potential future upgrades