Mickel welcomes decision by Qantas to service new RAAF aircraft in Brisbane
Published Thursday, 12 July, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Queensland’s reputation as a major aviation and aerospace hub for the Asia-Pacific region was further cemented today with the announcement that Qantas will modify and service the Australian Defence Force’s new air-to-air refuelling aircraft in Brisbane.
Minister for State Development John Mickel said Qantas’s decision to modify and service the ADF’s KC-30B Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft at its Eagle Farm Heavy Maintenance Facility was a sure sign of the confidence that Qantas and the industry had in the Smart State.
“The Queensland Government worked hard to persuade Qantas to establish a Heavy Maintenance facility in Brisbane. We believe aviation and aerospace is a key industry of the future, the establishment of which will pay big dividends for the Queensland economy.
‘And critical to that has been to attract major companies and their activities to Queensland to build up and solidify the industry here. In recent years, Queensland has been successful in attracting such key companies as Boeing, Virgin Blue, EADS Australian Aerospace, GE Aviation, Singapore Flying School and Hawker Pacific,” Mr Mickel said.
“It’s estimated that Queensland had less than 3000 people employed in the industry across the State before 1998. More than 6000 skilled jobs have been created since 1998 as a direct result of Government industry development and investment attraction activities,” he said.
Mr Mickel said the Department of Defence awarded Qantas a five-year contract in February this year for the on-going engineering, maintenance, supply and training support for the KC-30B aircraft.
“This contract can be extended out to 20 years or the life of the aircraft and is valued at over $500 million.
“Qantas’s decision to do the work in Brisbane is a huge feather in the cap to the industry here and will require up to 100 specialist aircraft and engineering staff,” Mr Mickel said.
The new aircraft will replace the ADF’s existing B-707 tanker aircraft.
The aircraft are fitted with state-of-the art aerial refuelling systems, comprising a ‘fly-by-wire’ boom refuel system and all-electric probe-and-drogue systems that provides accurate, reliable in-flight refuelling.
Advance mission systems will also be fitted, including the latest in military communications and navigation suites and an electronic warfare self-protection system to protect the aircraft from surface-to-air missiles.
“A total of four aircraft will be modified in Brisbane and after its conclusion we’ll have this capability to take advantage of similar opportunities in the Asia Pacific region,” Mr Mickel said.
Due to enter service in 2009, the KC-30Bs will be capable of refuelling F/A-18 Hornets, F-111s, Airborne Early Warning and Control Wedgetails and Joint Strike Fighters as well as acting as troop transporters.
They will be operated by the No 33 Squadron at the RAAF base in Amberley.
Qantas currently carries out heavy maintenance of its B767 fleet at its Eagle Farm facility.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
July 12, 2007
Minister for State Development John Mickel said Qantas’s decision to modify and service the ADF’s KC-30B Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft at its Eagle Farm Heavy Maintenance Facility was a sure sign of the confidence that Qantas and the industry had in the Smart State.
“The Queensland Government worked hard to persuade Qantas to establish a Heavy Maintenance facility in Brisbane. We believe aviation and aerospace is a key industry of the future, the establishment of which will pay big dividends for the Queensland economy.
‘And critical to that has been to attract major companies and their activities to Queensland to build up and solidify the industry here. In recent years, Queensland has been successful in attracting such key companies as Boeing, Virgin Blue, EADS Australian Aerospace, GE Aviation, Singapore Flying School and Hawker Pacific,” Mr Mickel said.
“It’s estimated that Queensland had less than 3000 people employed in the industry across the State before 1998. More than 6000 skilled jobs have been created since 1998 as a direct result of Government industry development and investment attraction activities,” he said.
Mr Mickel said the Department of Defence awarded Qantas a five-year contract in February this year for the on-going engineering, maintenance, supply and training support for the KC-30B aircraft.
“This contract can be extended out to 20 years or the life of the aircraft and is valued at over $500 million.
“Qantas’s decision to do the work in Brisbane is a huge feather in the cap to the industry here and will require up to 100 specialist aircraft and engineering staff,” Mr Mickel said.
The new aircraft will replace the ADF’s existing B-707 tanker aircraft.
The aircraft are fitted with state-of-the art aerial refuelling systems, comprising a ‘fly-by-wire’ boom refuel system and all-electric probe-and-drogue systems that provides accurate, reliable in-flight refuelling.
Advance mission systems will also be fitted, including the latest in military communications and navigation suites and an electronic warfare self-protection system to protect the aircraft from surface-to-air missiles.
“A total of four aircraft will be modified in Brisbane and after its conclusion we’ll have this capability to take advantage of similar opportunities in the Asia Pacific region,” Mr Mickel said.
Due to enter service in 2009, the KC-30Bs will be capable of refuelling F/A-18 Hornets, F-111s, Airborne Early Warning and Control Wedgetails and Joint Strike Fighters as well as acting as troop transporters.
They will be operated by the No 33 Squadron at the RAAF base in Amberley.
Qantas currently carries out heavy maintenance of its B767 fleet at its Eagle Farm facility.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
July 12, 2007