Nowra To Be New Home Of Adf Helicopter Training, Next a new Helicopter Training Contract!

[Brendan Cowan]

Minister for Defence Media Mail List
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Wednesday, 10 October 2007 119/2007

NOWRA TO BE NEW HOME OF ADF HELICOPTER TRAINING

I am pleased to announce that the Government has selected HMAS ALBATROSS, at Nowra in NSW, as the location of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) joint helicopter school.

The new helicopter school is being established under the Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) announced in February this year. The helicopter school will train up to 60 pilots, 40 aircrewmen/loadmasters and 12 Observers per year and will help create around 100 civilian positions for maintenance, support and training roles.

HATS is a $500 - $700 million project to replace aircrew training on Navy Squirrel and Army Kiowa helicopters and is part of a broader integrated training strategy.

The project will deliver advanced training systems and better equip ADF aircrew to fly more operationally-advance helicopters such as the Seahawk, MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter, Seasprite, Black Hawk, Chinook and the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter.

Nowra is a most suitable location to provide the broad range of training environments required for the ADF’s aircrew. It has varied terrain to the west of the base where overland skills such as low level navigation can be practiced without undue noise impact. To the east, Jervis Bay and the Eastern Australian Exercise Area are ideal for maritime training and provide an opportunity to work with the Navy’s warships.

Building the school at Nowra will see the development of facilities worth approximately $100 million. This will provide an opportunity for the aviation industry to grow in the Shoalhaven which will result in an increase in aviation jobs and training opportunities in the region.

The selection of Nowra has taken place after a detailed study into how to provide high quality training at the best value for money.

Helicopter aircrew graduating from their initial HATS training will undertake operational flying conversion to other aircraft types. Seahawk and Seasprite training will remain at Nowra, with MRH-90 and Tiger training at Oakey and Chinook training at Townsville.

The Government remains committed to ADF aircrew training at Oakey, evidenced by the $135 million investment for Tiger and MRH-90 training facilities.

Construction of the new hangars and associated facilities is planned to start in 2012 with undergraduate aircrew training to commence in 2013.


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THE HON DR BRENDAN NELSON MP
Minister for Defence

Media contacts
Nigel Blunden (Dr Nelson) 02 6277 7800 0407 632 931
Defence Media Liaison 02 6265 3343 0408 498 664www.defence.gov.au

[Luig]

Excellent idea to increase the critical mass of helo skills for the Navy with much needed extra input (over and above the relatively small numbers of helos at the airfield - a lot are at sea usually). What a terrific development for FAA.