Fourteen years after handing its four Beechcraft 350 Super King Air aircraft to Air Force, the Australian Army has once again decided it needs a fixed-wing support capability.
Defence has released an Expressions of Interest (EOI) FCOMD/EOI/37171/1(Army Aviation General Fixed Wing Support) to industry with the aim of leasing up to two single-engine aircraft, with the capability to become available in early 2024.
Under the EOI, Army Aviation is seeking aircraft with the ability to carry small loads (less than 10 people or 1,000 kg of cargo) with good short take off and landing (STOL) capabilities to allow operations from unprepared and austere airfields across northern Australia.
The initial lease period will be between 18 and 24 months, beginning in late 2023 and with the aircraft to become available in early 2024. Defence also says contracts may be extended for up to ten years.
Aircraft under consideration are the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, Daher Kodiak 100 or 900, and Pilatus PC-12 NG, but Defence says the options are not restricted to these types and to meet its requirements, it is prepared to consider two different types.
The aircraft will remain on the civil register but will be operated by military pilots under the service provider’s Air Operators Certificate (AOC). When commanded by a military pilot, the aircraft will be considered to be a State Operated aircraft in accordance with Defence Aviation Safety (DASA) regulations.
“The aircraft may be located at a suitable civilian airfield. Army is not specifying a location for the initial contract period; however, the strong preference is for the aircraft to be based in the south-east Queensland region, bounded by Brisbane-Darling Downs-Sunshine Coast,” the document states.
“Army Aviation’s intention is to establish a utility capability provided by a robust single-engine aircraft with good STOL functionality, capable of operating on unprepared strips in the austere conditions commonly found across northern Australia.”
The requirement will be for the aircraft selected to be capable of carrying Defence personnel and VIPs on occasion, as well as cargo operations which include the carriage of dangerous goods – primarily small arms ammunition.
Closing date for the EOI is 15 August.