Aquila Engineering of Sale in Victoria and Pilatus Aircraft have signed a contract for the former to provide In-Country Engineering and Logistics Support for the new Royal Australian Air Force PC-21 aircraft fleet, as part of the Air 5428 Pilot Training System, primed by Lockheed Martin.
This contract will mean the continuation of, and commitment to, in-country engineering and logistics support of the ADF pilot training program.
Pilatus and Aquila first partnered in 2004 to provide in-country engineering and logistics support to the current RAAF pilot training platform. This same system will now support the PC-21 platform, which has the same customer, roles and operating bases and will therefore benefit from a proven and responsive engineering capability to support the new performance based contract through an SME entity with its head-office located in rural Victoria, according to Aquila general manager Jenny Marshall.
“We are looking forward to this renewed long-term partnership and are pleased to continue our relationship with Aquila Engineering; an in-country arrangement for the engineering support further increases our commitment to Australian industry capability supporting the PC-21,” Rob Oliver, Pilatus’ director Defence Australia, said.
The contract for the PC-21 engineering and logistics support formally commenced on 1 July 2017 and will operate concurrently with the PC-9/A support capability through to the 29 year old fleet’s withdrawal from service in 2019. This ensures Pilatus continues the best possible outcomes for the Royal Australian Air Force fleet of PC-9/A aircraft transitioning to the new PC-21 aircraft.