Third KC-30 completed

Item by australianaviation.com.au at 1:59 pm, Wednesday October 13 2010

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Airbus Military has completed its third RAAF KC-30A (A330 MRTT) tanker transport conversion, the second to be undertaken in Brisbane by Qantas Defence Services (QDS), with the aircraft recently completing its post conversion test flight. After completing its four hour ‘production flight’ test flight, during which it reached an altitude of 41,000ft and various handling quality, performance and systems tests were undertaken, the aircraft is now due to fly to Spain later this week where it will be painted in RAAF colours and undergo refuelling tests. Noted Airbus Military program manager Valentin Merino, “there have been significant improvements in the conversion quality and efficiencies since the commencement of the Australian program in 2008.” The news follows the announcement earlier this month that the KC-30 has received Spanish military certification from the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Aerospacial. Airbus Military says the first two KC-30s will be delivered to the RAAF “before the end of the year”. Conversion work on the fourth KC-30 is now well advanced with QDS and Brisbane.

Media Archive

2010

• October
  • Third KC-30 completed
• July
  • QDS signs $136M C130H Contract Extension
• June
  • Fourth A330 arrives at Brisbane for RAAF MRTT conversion
• May
  • MRTT support equipment on the way

QANTAS Defence Services Signs $136M C130H Contract Extension

SYDNEY, 5 July 2010: Qantas Defence Services and the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) have signed a three-year, $136 million extension to the maintenance and support contract for the Australian Government’s fleet of 12 Lockheed Martin C130H aircraft.

The contract, initially awarded to Qantas in 1999, includes renewal options. It covers a range of maintenance, engineering and logistic support activities performed by Qantas Defence Services for the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) Air Lift System Program Office (ALSPO) based at RAAF Base Richmond.

The Head of Qantas Defence Services, Mr. Glen Steed, said the extension continues the strong long term relationship between the two organisations, which have worked successfully together to reduce the cost of ownership of the C130H for the Government. “Qantas Defence Services regards this extension as an opportunity to continue pursuing the Strategic Reform Program goal of reducing support costs for the C130H,” Mr. Steed said.

“We are proud of our 10-year relationship with DMO and the RAAF. The extension confirms that Qantas Defence Services has demonstrated real cost savings through ‘smart sustainment’ initiatives. We are committed to continuing to drive down costs while delivering the highest standard of support.” DMO’s Head of Aerospace Systems Division, Air Vice-Marshal Col Thorne, commended Qantas Defence Services for their support of the C130H over the past 10 years. “We look forward to a continued strong relationship that delivers real operating cost reductions over the next three years,” Air Vice-Marshal Thorne said.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas Airways Limited, Qantas Defence Services has an annual turnover of over $140 million and employs approximately 500 people. It provides maintenance, supply, deeper maintenance and training support to a range of major Defence aerospace capability systems, including Special Purpose Aircraft, T56 and Adour propulsion systems and the KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (both the military-derivative conversion of the A330 to the KC-30A and the weapon system Through Life Support). Approximately 200 Qantas Defence Services personnel are employed at RAAF Base Richmond providing C130H support services.

Fourth A330 arrives at BNE for RAAF MRTT conversion

Item by australianaviation.com.au at 1:55 pm, Monday June 21 2010  

Another ‘green’ A330 has arrived at Qantas Defence Services (QDS) in Brisbane ready for conversion to a KC-30A MRTT for the RAAF. The aircraft, the fourth of the five on order and the third to be converted at Brisbane, was built as a standard A330-200 by Airbus in Toulouse, and will be substantially modified over a 10 month period into its MRTT form. The second aircraft to be modified by QDS is nearing completion and is scheduled to receive ‘power-on’ in July, while the first joined the original Airbus modified aircraft in Spain late last year for flight test and certification work. The first two KC-30As are due to be delivered to the RAAF by the end of 2010, with the remaining three due by early 2012.

MRTT Support Equipment on the way

21 May 2010: Preparations have begun to deliver thousands of items of tooling and spare parts from Europe to Australia to support the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF's) new fleet of Airbus Military A330 Multi-Role Tanker-Transport (MRTT) air-to-air refuelling tankers. As part of the Commonwealth's AIR 5402 acquisition process under which Airbus Military is providing the RAAF with five such aircraft, designated by the air force as KC-30A MRTT, some 4,500 individual components - 500 units of Ground Support and Test equipment and 4,000 spares - will be delivered to 33 Squadron at RAAF Amberley over the next three months.

The equipment will be needed when the first A330 MRTT enters squadron service at Amberley towards the end of the year. Prime contractor Qantas Defence Services (QDS) and Airbus Military have signed a through life support (TLS) contract under which Airbus, through QDS, will ensure ongoing maintenance support to the A330 MRTT fleet over the next 22 years.

As prime contractor, QDS will base some 50 engineering support personnel at RAAF Amberley to manage the TLS program. In its design and maintenance support role, Airbus Military will provide QDS with engineering, logistics, technical data, supply and training support services. It will also assign two field service representatives to 33 Squadron for three years to ensure a smooth entry into service. The TLS agreement also provides for future contracts to ensure additional support for the military aspects of the fleet, specifically deep maintenance, consolidating and expanding Airbus Military's presence and role in Brisbane.