Jobs to fly south as fleet relocates
FORTY aviation staff may lose their jobs later this year after the Department of Defence confirmed its plan to move a Townsville air force squadron to Victoria.
The Bulletin first revealed in late 2015 Defence officials were reviewing whether to clip the wings of 38 Squadron, after staff were briefed on a plan to transition the unit into 32 Squadron when a maintenance contract ends later this year.
The Department of Defence yesterday confirmed the Townsville- based eight- plane Beechcraft King Air fleet would move to RAAF Base East Sale after almost a decade in the North.
The new base, east of Melbourne, is home to the RAAF’s other eight- plane fleet of King Airs.
The transition of the fleet would require the relocation of 24 permanent Townsville air force personnel including five families.
“The relocation of personnel will be phased to ensure minimum disruption to capability, families and schooling,” a Defence spokeswoman said.
The Bulletin has been told a senior member of Defence visited RAAF Base Townsville on Thursday, calling a snap meeting with 38 SQN personnel and up to 40 Hawker Pacific staff to inform them of the decision.
A source said the civilian staff were “blindsided” by the news they would likely lose their jobs.
Hawker Pacific management then held a crisis meeting with their staff immediately after.
“They were told ( the job cuts) were going to happen sooner rather than later,” the source said.
It’s understood most Hawker END OF AN ERA: Four RAAF King Air planes fly in formation over Townsville during the air show in 2016. Pacific staff are former Defence personnel. The Defence spokeswoman confirmed Hawker Pacific had been advised of the planned relocation as part of the contract agreement.
“A graduated transfer of the King Air will allow civilian contractors to manage its workforce in a sustainable manner by December 2018,” she said.
Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole said the decision was a huge blow at a time when the State and Fed- eral governments were spruiking plans to grow the Defence industry in the North.
“Taking jobs from our economy does nothing to help people get work,” she said.
Mayor Jenny Hill has previously flagged her desire to bring C- 27J Spartans military transport aircraft and that maintenance work to Townsville to ease the effect of any changes to 38 SQN.
“The important thing for Townsville is that a replacement for 38 Squadron is found and its aircraft need to be maintained here,” she said yesterday.
The Defence spokeswoman said the Townsville- based King Air aircraft at 38 SQN was an “interim capability bridge between the Caribou and C27- J Spartan”.
Last night it remained unclear if any commitment to bring C27- J Spartan operations to Townsville would be made.
The Bulletin contacted Hawker Pacific but it declined to comment.