TAMWORTH-based BAE Systems has welcomed a five-year extension of its contract with Singapore that will see an increase in pilots being trained at Tamworth Airport.
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The good news came yesterday with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) announcing Tamworth would continue to be the airport for a flight-training contract.
The news comes as the city waits for word on whether BAE Systems will retain the Australian Defence Force basic flying training contract – but expects the worst, given a leaked industry news item six weeks ago that suggested the contract had been lost to a BAE rival and would be delivered out of a RAAF base in Victoria.
Yesterday’s news showed that, as well as an increase in years, the RSAF aims to increase the number of students grading each year from 220 to 240.
Member for New England Barnaby Joyce said the Air Grading Centre would continue to be supported by a permanent detachment of 12 RSAF personnel who along with their families make a valued contribution to the local Tamworth community.
Mr Joyce said BAE Systems would continue to provide the RSAF with aircraft, purpose built training facilities, instructor training, student accommodation and recreational facilities for a further five years.
They have been the primary provider of Air Grading Services to the RSAF since 1999.
Students are taught basic flying, navigation and airmanship skills and are concurrently assessed for their aptitude for life as a military aviator.
BAE Systems facilities at Tamworth are used to support the training of four militaries – Australian Defence Force, the RSAF, Royal Brunei Air Force and Papua New Guinea Defence Force.
“That’s why I’ll continue to fight to ensure BAE System’s Tamworth flight training college will continue to grow as a premier pilot training facility,” Mr Joyce said.
During a recent performance review, the RSAF Head of Air Training, Colonel Ho Yung Peng, stated that the excellent working relationship between the RSAF and BAE Systems has delivered solid contractual outcomes to date.
BAE Systems director for aerospace Steve Drury said they were honoured to continue providing the Singapore Air Force with aircraft and training equipment to meet their future aircrew training needs.
“We welcome the RSAF’s continued support for Flight Training Tamworth and BAE Systems as their on-going partner for air grading activities,” he said.
“This extension with the RSAF maintains our ... customer base beyond the Australian Defence Force, which is an important element of our long-term flight training business in Tamworth.”
BAE Systems will continue to provide the RSAF with aircraft, purpose- built training facilities, instructor training, student accommodation and recreational facilities until the end of 2019.