DPR 83/97 Friday, 13 June, 1997
PILOT TRAINING MAY BE CONTRACTED OUT
All basic fixed wing flight training for the Australian Defence Force may be contracted out following a review of pilot training requirements for the three services.
The review, which began late last year, has recommended the ADF out source its basic flight training with an integrated but largely common syllabus for all trainee pilots.
An Invitation to Register Interest (ITR) is expected to be released in July and a contract signed in April 1998.
Under current training arrangements, Navy and Air Force pilot candidates are initially screened to determine their flying aptitude at British Aerospace Flying Training Australia (formerly known as the Australian Air Academy) at Tamworth in New South Wales. Successful candidates then proceed to No 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) at RAAF Base Pearce, WA, to begin their basic flying training on the RAAF's PC9/A aircraft. Prospective Army pilots, on the other hand, do their basic flying training at Tamworth.
The new proposal is designed to offer a more cost effective and integrated first stage of training but the extent of RAAF participation will depend on the cost of contracted training compared with the RAAF's current training system. RAAF trainees, under existing arrangements, do their basic flight training on the PC9 which, under the new scheme, would be used for the second phase of their training.
The total scope of the contract package will range from a minimum of about 9000 flying hours to a maximum of about 17,000 flying hours per year, depending on the cost assessment for RAAF training. The package will also include a short pre-training screening syllabus.
The syllabus and specifications for training aircraft and other training aids are well advanced and will be detailed in the ITR.
Larger civilian training organisations have shown considerable interest in the review, and, with the expanded scope of the new contract, it could also attract international interest.
Further information:
Ministerial, Jim Bonner Ph 0419 438490
Departmental, GPCAPT Mike Nixon Ph 06-2652513 (b/h)