A view inside the A109E’s cockpit

There will be more flying opportunities for Navy’s junior aircrew following the Royal Australian Navy’s acceptance of the Augusta Westland A109E Power Helicopter in a ceremony at HMAS Albatross in Nowra.

The Navy has leased three A109E helicopters from Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd for a period of four years.

This leasing initiative provides Navy with a flexible arrangement to continue to grow and train aircrew while providing support to the Fleet and the remainder of the Navy.

The Navy has been successful in increasing the number of qualified junior aircrew who will now spend more time in the A109E maintaining skills while they wait for further operational flight training opportunities in other Navy helicopters.

The versatile A109E aircraft will be utilised for a range of activities including, consolidating flying skills, supporting fleet training, search and rescue, medical evacuation and personnel transfers.

HMAS Albatross has also been announced as the location of the ADF’s joint helicopter school.

The new helicopter school is being established under the Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) announced in February this year. The helicopter school will train up to 60 pilots, 40 aircrewmen/loadmasters and 12 observers per year, and will help create around 100 civilian positions for maintenance, support and training roles.

HATS is a $500 - $700 million project to replace aircrew training on Navy Squirrel and Army Kiowa helicopters and is part of a broader integrated training strategy.

The project will deliver advanced training systems and better equip ADF aircrew to fly more operationally-advanced helicopters such as the Seahawk, MRH-90 Multi-Role Helicopter, Seasprite, Black Hawk, Chinook and the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter.

Building the school at Nowra will see the development of facilities worth approximately $100 million. This will provide an opportunity for the aviation industry to grow in the Shoalhaven which will result in an increase in aviation jobs and training opportunities in the region.

Helicopter aircrew graduating from their initial HATS training will undertake operational flying conversion to other aircraft types. Seahawk and Seasprite training will remain at Nowra, with MRH-90 and Tiger training at Oakey and Chinook training at Townsville.

Construction of the new hangars and associated facilities is planned to start in 2012 with undergraduate aircrew training to commence in 2013.