Defence

Air Force

Commercialisation of the F-111 Engines Business Unit

A contract-signing event to mark the commercialisation of the F-111 Engines Business Unit (EBU) was hosted by Tasman Aviation Enterprises (TAE) and Strike Reconnaissance Systems Program Office (SRSPO) on 20 September 2006 at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley. Heidi Maher reports.

AIRCDRE Roy McPhail, DGACS and Andrew Sanderson, General Manager, Tasman Aviation Enterprises Queensland (GM TAEQ)
Photo by 82WG.

Tasman Aviation Enterprises (TAE) has won the contract and will provide support for the TF30 engine in the F-111.

Group Captain Adrian Morrison, Officer Commanding Strike Reconnaissance Systems Program Office, said that the commercialisation was an opportunity to maintain a capability that has served us well over many years but was at risk of disbanding as the F-111 goes out of service. ‘By putting the Engines Business Unit into commercial hands we are providing an opportunity for new work to flow into Amberley—something that we could not do under the current in-house arrangement’, he said.

‘This opportunity is a milestone for the future of TAE in Australia,’ said General Manager of TAE, Andrew Sanderson.

‘TAE will be using the new contract as a launch point for expanding the military engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capability for Australia and the region using the comprehensive capability available from the new operation to create Australia’s most complete military engine MRO business.’

Cameron Thompson, Member for Blair, AIRCDRE Roy McPhail, DGACS, Trevor Hughes, General Manager Commercial and Business Development Air New Zealand Engineering Services, Andrew Sanderson, GM TAEQ, GPCAPT Adrian Morrison, OC SRSPO
Photo by 82WG.

TAE is currently the holder of the F-111 Workshops Business Unit Contract, which is responsible for machining, electroplating and general engineering in support of the F-111.

The EBU is one of four independent Business Units that support the RAAF F-111 weapon system. The EBU was established in 2001 as an ‘in-house option’ after winning a market-testing activity for support of the TF30 jet engine as an outcome of the 1997 Defence Reform Program.

Since 2001 the EBU has operated successfully at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, with an Australian Public Service workforce.

By commercialising the EBU, opportunities to bring new work into south-eastern Queensland and Australia have been created.

The new entity is expected to provide employment prospects for current EBU personnel beyond the Planned Withdrawal of the F-111 by expanding the range of commercial and Defence turbine engine maintenance conducted at Amberley.

The majority of the existing workforce is anticipated to take up employment with TAE.

The contract price is approximately $90 million to June 2010, with options to continue beyond 2010 if required.

Heidi Maher is Executive Officer Strike Reconnaissance Systems Program Office, RAAF.

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