With proven capability and experience in Deep Maintenance and Through-Life-Support (TLS) to large military fixed-wing aircraft, “Team Aero” members Australian Aerospace, Lockheed Martin and StandardAero have been selected as the contractors for the Through Life Support (TLS) of the RAAF’s fleet of C130J Hercules transports.

Air Vice Marshall Colin Thorne Head of Aerospace Systems Division today signed a contract to formalise the agreement with Team Aero at the Australian International Air Show in Avalon, Victoria.

Team Aero will undertake a five-year rolling contract with the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) through to life-of-type of the 12 C130Js to 2030.

Under the new arrangement, Australian Aerospace will work closely with the DMO, RAAF and partners Lockheed Martin and StandardAero, the latter being the current C130J engine maintenance provider.

Renewal of the five-year rolling contract will be linked to demonstrated performance and cost containment, with an eye to: improved delivery of services; performance-based, long-term, support arrangements; relationship with the Commonwealth; price disclosure; and meaningful transfer of risk.

“Team Aero members have the skills, proven track record and flexibility to provide an outstanding TLS solution,” said Australian Aerospace Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jens Goennemann.

“Australian Aerospace has been providing Deep Maintenance and TLS services to the RAAF’s fleet of Orion AP-3C reconnaissance aircraft since 1993 and the Caribou medium-lift transport aircraft throughout its service life, demonstrating it has the experience to deliver outstanding value for money to the Commonwealth,” Dr. Goennemann said.

“The award of the C130J contract shows the confidence our customers have in our capabilities,” said Chris Antone, Vice President Business Development Global Sustainment Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “We are excited about this partnership with Team Aero and we look forward to delivering a capability that will meet the needs of the Commonwealth and the Royal Australian Air Force.”

“StandardAero is pleased to be part of Team Aero and have the opportunity to continue its support to the RAAF C130J fleet as part of the TLS Service Agreement,” said Harinder Grewal, StandardAero Senior Vice President for Military and Government. “Our expertise in the propulsion system will deliver real value to Team Aero.”

Valued at 2 million the C130J TLS program will provide long term employment opportunities in western Sydney across technical and professional disciplines.

Team Aero members
Australian Aerospace
Australian Aerospace Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eurocopter which is, in turn, a part of the European Aeronautic Defence & Space Group (EADS). Created in 2003 through the merger of Eurocopter International Pacific Limited and Australian

Aerospace Pty Ltd, the company has evolved into a major defence supplier to the Australian Government. With over 1000 staff in Australia and New Zealand and access to the financial strength and expertise of Eurocopter and the EADS Group, the company is well positioned to manufacture and support civil and military helicopters in the Australia-Pacific region. In addition to its helicopter capabilities, Australian Aerospace has a long history of support for the RAAF AP3C Orion reconnaissance and Caribou transport fleets and is involved in supporting the RAAF’s new Airbus A330-based Multi-Role Tanker-Transport (MRTT) aircraft.

Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is a major supplier of logistics systems and lifetime support and performance-based logistics services to military and civil government customers. The corporation provides solutions for platform maintenance, modifications and repair, material readiness and distribution, and global supply chain command and control. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 146,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2008 sales of .7 billion.

StandardAero
StandardAero, a Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) company with .4 billion in annual revenue, specializes in engine maintenance, repair and overhaul, and nose-to-tail services that include airframe, interior refurbishments and paint for business and general aviation, air transport, and military aircraft. The company, part of the DAE Engineering division, forms a global services network of 12 primary facilities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Singapore and Australia, with an additional 14 regionally located service and support locations.

Source: Eurocopter