Airflite

Defence > PC9 Maintenance WA

RAAF PC9/A Maintenance Contract - WA

The RAAF has a fleet of 65 military training aircraft (the Pilatus PC9/A) that are designated for Defence Forces pilot training. This platform is utilised to provide sufficient training and the ability to stream the defence pilots of the future into the next squadrons, be they future fighter pilots, surveillance aircraft pilots, VIP transport pilots, or military transport pilots.

Every pilot in the Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy will have graduated at one time or another through the training programs conducted at 2nd Flight Training School (2FTS) at RAAF Pearce in Western Australia. The ongoing operability of this platform and the quality and reliability of training that can be provided as a result is a key element in the future of the Australian Defence Forces and the national interest.

The PC9/A has been the chosen training platform for the RAAF since 1989, and entered operations in 1990 with Pilots Course 155 being the first to use the PC9/A.

The PC9/A aircraft and its predecessors at 2FTS had been supported by internal Air Force maintenance operations. In 1991 the Commenwealth of Australia chose to tender the maintenance operations, attracting bids from industry to compete with the proposed internal Air Force maintenance solution.

After much evaluation and negotiations Airflite was awarded the maintenance contract in 1994, ahead of the internal Air Force maintenance solution.

Airflite has continued to successfully maintain the contract since 1994, signing a Life of Type Contract in 2006 that cements Airflite as the PC9/A maintenance provider until the aircraft retirement. This includes accident free flying for over 200,000 flying hours combined with the operations at RAAF East Sale.

Airflite is proud to be associated with the Defence Force pilots of the future, and to support such a critical element of the Australian military environment. This is evidenced by the commitment and quality of workmanship that has seen Airflite chosen to renew the contract 3 times during this period, eventually resulting in a Life of Type extension.

Airflite has also been granted the status as an Authorised Maintenance Organisation (AMO) PC9/A Aircraft and Aeronautical Products.

Contact:

	Cameron MacDonald		Keith Okely
	Manager Pearce		Business Manager
T:	+61 8 9571 2000	T:	+61 8 9499 7011
F:	+61 8 9571 2156	F:	+61 8 9499 7009
M:	+61 417 984 696	M:	+61 417 919 718
E:	cmacdonald@airflite.com.au	E:	kokely@airflite.com.au