THE HON. GREG COMBET MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
Thursday, 27 August 2009
048/2009
COMBET OPENS TOWNSVILLE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE
AND SUPPORT SERVICES FACILITY
Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today
officially opened BAE Systems’ new, state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance
centre at Townsville Airport in North Queensland.
Mr Combet said the facility is the centre of BAE’s support program for the
Australian Army’s Black Hawk and Chinook helicopter fleets.
“This facility will provide employment for 140 people and enhanced support for
the helicopters of the ADF,” Mr Combet said.
“Over the past nine years BAE Systems has played an important role in
assisting the preparations and sustainment of both Chinook and Black Hawk
helicopters across a broad range of activities.
“These activities have included operations in East Timor, the Middle East,
Afghanistan, our local region and more recently in Papua New Guinea,” Mr
Combet said.
Mr Combet also thanked the leadership and skilled tradesmen of BAE
Systems on behalf of the Australian Government for the quality support that
they provided to ADF helicopters over the past nine years.
“I would also like to applaud the efforts of the contractors and ADF staff
involved in achieving outstanding levels of rate of effort for the Black Hawk
fleet. I’m proud to announce that the Black Hawk Rate of Effort for the last
financial year was an 11 per cent increase over the previous financial year
and the highest for more than six years.”
Please note Defence Media has a new phone number: 02 6127 1999.
The existing number will be automatically diverted to the new number for three
months. The existing after-hours duty mobile 0408 498 664 will remain.
Media contacts:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet):
02 6277 4771 or 0458 276 619
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
