Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) has been selected to maintain the Australian Army’s new Airbus H135 ‘Juno’ training helicopter fleet, making BDA the predominant helicopter sustainment provider for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Thirty new roles covering engineering, maintenance and supply chain have been created in Brisbane and at the Army Aviation Training Centre at Swartz Barracks, Oakey, where the fleet of five H135s has commenced flying operations providing initial aircrew training.
“BDA’s trusted and proven defence aviation sustainment capability has enhanced the ADF’s air power for three decades, and we are now leveraging that expertise on the H135 fleet,” said BDA Sustainment Operations Director, Naomi Smith. “We look forward to continuing the close partnerships with Army, CASG and industry forged on the CH-47F and Helicopter Aircrew Training System programs to ensure the readiness of the H135 helicopters for the next generation of Army aircrew.”
The new sustainment program has also created opportunities for local industry:
- Victorian company Microflite delivered conversion training for current BDA aircrew;
- Queensland-based rotary training provider HeliTSA is delivering ongoing airframe maintenance training; and
- Safran Helicopter Engines Australia is delivering Arrius engine maintenance training and through-life engine sustainment support.
The H135 is the fourth ADF helicopter variant sustained by BDA, in addition to the Boeing CH-47F Chinooks, future AH-64E Apaches and the Airbus EC135 T2+. In addition to delivering platform sustainment services, BDA also supported the rapid acquisition of the H135 fleet. Its Helicopter Aircrew Training System team led the aircraft disassembly in the UK, their transportation to Australia, reassembly at HMAS Albatross, Nowra, and flight testing.
