Australian Aviation — January 2018

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 21

aircraft, including two pilot simulators,
two air combat officer simulators and
a Boeing 737 fuselage ordnance load
trainer.

• Defence Minister Marise Payne has
  confirmed Australia has agreed to
  sell 18 RAAF F/A-18A/B ‘classic’
  Hornets to Canada. The Minister’s
  announcement came after Canada
  confirmed it would not be proceeding
  with a planned purchase of 18 F/A-
  18E/F Super Hornets from Boeing,
  and would instead agree to a letter
  of offer from Australia for the classic
  Hornets. The first two aircraft would
  be handed over in early 2019.


• 
  

  Northrop Grumman Australia has been
  awarded a performance-based
  contract to maintain the RAAF’s
  fleet of Leonardo/L-3 C-27J Spartan
  battlefield airlifters. The contract is

  
  

of type in Australia. The red painted

505s, soon to be registered VH-VSB

and VH-VTB, will be used by Nautilus

for industry training on the type,

commercial charter and tourism

operations.

• The Royal Australian Navy’s Aircraft
  Maintenance And Flight Trials Unit has
  conducted preliminary deck handling
  trials with an 816 Squadron Romeo
  Flight 6 MH-60R Seahawk landing on
  board the new Hobart class DDG Air
  Warfare Destroyer HMAS Hobart in
  Sydney Harbour. In the planning since
  May, the first-of-class trial began on
  November 7 alongside Fleet Base East,
  Garden Island, in order to reduce the
  risks associated with landing at sea,
  and included an approach, landing,
  and subsequent launch of Seahawk
  Romeo N48-013.


• 
  

for an initial five-year period, and

will renew annually for up to 22 years

under a “rolling wave” arrangement,

should Northrop Grumman continue

to meet performance targets.

• Air Affairs Australia and Discovery Air
  Defence Services have completed
  their first fast jet training missions
  in support of the Australian Defence
  Force’s Fast Jet Trial contract. Air
  Affairs stated that four of its Learjet
  aircraft and two Discovery Air
  Defence modified Alpha Jet aircraft
  participated in air-to-air missions as
  ‘red air aggressors’ near RAAF Base
  Williamtown.

HELICOPTERS

Nautilus Aviation’s two Bell 505 Jet

Ranger Xs arrived at Hawker

Pacific’s Bankstown Airport facility

on December 4 and became the first

RAAF EA-18G Growler A46-306

now wears special markings

to celebrate the centenary of

6 Squadron.LANCE BROAD

Debrief

p: (02) 9766 0200

http://www.heliflite.com.au

Robinson sales: 0403 196 219

AUTHORISED ROBINSON DISTRIBUTOR

#1 SELLING HELICOPTER RANGE

Supporting

Aviation in Australia since 1977