A Sale-based business has been signed up to provide engineering support to the incoming PC-21 aircraft at RAAF Base East Sale.
Aquila Engineering has a two year contract with Pilatus Aircraft to provide engineering support, with the hope of extending longer term
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said Aquila’s head office was in Sale, which meant timely and efficient engineering support for aircraft at RAAF Base East Sale.
Mr Chester said he was pleased to see the local community gaining rewards from major investment at the base, which will see Sale become the home of all pilot training from next year. Once the Basic Flying Training School is relocated to East Sale, all pilots for the Navy, Air Force and Army will commence their training in Sale using the new PC-21 aircraft.
“The Basic Flying Training School is expected to deliver a $15 million per year boost to the Gippsland economy, in addition to the current defence contribution to Gippsland of $12 million per year in direct wages and supplies,” Mr Chester said.
General Manager Jenny Marshall said Aquila Engineering had a highly skilled and experienced workforce able to produce engineering, logistics and technical outcomes to satisfy ADF engineering and maintenance regulatory requirements.
“The RAAF Training Aircraft Systems Program Office (TASPO), based at RAAF Base East Sale, outsourced part of the PC-9/A engineering support for an initial two year period in 2004 to assist in addressing a backlog of engineering demands,” said Ms Marshall.
“Due to its success it was extended beyond the initial term and is still successfully delivering 14 years later. In that time, we have delivered in excess of 1700 individual projects in support of PC-9/A engineering and maintenance needs, which we hope to replicate for the new PC-21 going forward.”
