Pilot program flies off

Defence pulls Boeing-run training contract from the Oakey base

A MAJOR pilot training program will be pulled from the Australian Army’s Oakey base this year, with jobs expected to move.

Boeing Defence Australia confirmed employee changes would occur, after the Department of Defence decided late last year to pull the Army Aviation Training and Training Support program from the Oakey Army Base.

The scheme, which was awarded to Boeing for Oakey in 2007, will be moved down to Nowra in New South Wales to join the Helicopter Aircrew Training School, also run by Boeing.

A Boeing Defence Australia spokeswoman said any employees affected would be moved to another part of the company.

“Boeing Defence Australia has been operating at the Oakey Army Base since 2002 when the Australian Defence Force relocated its Canberrabased Army Helicopter School,” she said.

“In 2018, The Commonwealth of Australia commenced its planned transition from the Army Aviation Training and Training Support contract in Oakey to the Helicopter Aircrew Training School in Nowra.

“BDA continues to work with the Australian Army on other opportunities.”

The Bell OH-58 Kiowa helicopters, which have been the primary training aircraft at Oakey, will also be retired as part of the transition.

The spokeswoman said Boeing would remain in Oakey to cater for other training and aircraft maintenance services.

“After the AATTS contract ends in September 2019, BDA will retain operations at the Oakey Army Base in support of the CH-47 Integrated Support Services contract,” she said.

“BDA instructors provide training and technical support on a suite of cutting-edge training devices.”

The Department of Defence was contacted for comment.