Qantas Airways signs tanker support deal with Australian Air Force |
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Thu, 22 Feb 2007 06:00
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SYDNEY (XFN-ASIA) - Qantas Airways Ltd said it has signed a contract to provide support services for the Royal AustralianAir Force's (RAAF) fleet of five Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft.The contract provides technical, spares, training and maintenance support to the tanker fleet for the entire period the aircraft remain in service with the RAAF.Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said the deal follows a successful joint bid in 2004 by EADS, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) of Australia and Qantas to provide the RAAF with a tanker version of the A330-200.The contract will establish a support organization at the RAAF base in Amberley, Queensland in 2008 in preparation for the arrival of the first tanker from Spain, creating up to 50 new employment opportunities.Dixon said EADS, CASA and Qantas will convert four A330-200s into the RAAF tanker variant in Australia, while the the fifth aircraft, already converted, would be the first delivered directly to the RAAF from Spain.'Qantas' experience in the operation and maintenance of its own A330 commercial aircraft fleet means the very best skills and expertise will be available in providing future maintenance support to the RAAF's tanker fleet here in Australia,' he said.Dixon said his company would continue to provide maintenance support for the Australian military from its Sydney, Canberra and Amberley maintenance facilities.paul.daniel@xfn.com
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