THE HON. GREG COMBET AM MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
8
December 2009
123/2009
HIGH TECH TRAINING FOR SUPER HORNETS
Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science today
announced that training to maintain Australia’s new F/A-18F Super Hornets
has taken a technological leap with the introduction of a Visual Environment
Maintenance Trainer to RAAF Base Amberley.
“This week a group of Air Force’s best and brightest aviation technicians are
familiarising themselves with the latest innovation in aircraft maintenance
training equipment in preparation for the arrival of the new Super Hornet
aircraft,” Mr Combet said.
“The Visual Environment Maintenance Trainer consists of a mock Super
Hornet cockpit with touch screens that allow Air Force maintenance students
to perform diagnostic and system functional checks in a realistic setting.”
“The cockpit simulator provides students with the opportunity to work on
complex maintenance issues without actually being in a real aircraft. This
high tech problem solving can be monitored by an instructor who can bring up
teaching points as the student works toward finding a fault.”
“The new Trainer can also be quickly reprogrammed to create new faults and
allow students to do more diagnostic analysis in a shorter period of time than
could be performed using other training tools.”
“These new features will ensure that Air Force is at the forefront of Australian
aviation technical training and will allow students to gain greater experience
on Super Hornet systems before applying their new skills to real aircraft.”
Australia is acquiring 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets to aid the transition to a
mature Joint Strike Fighter capability and allow Air Force to retire the F-111
fleet. The Super Hornets will begin arriving at RAAF Base Amberley next year.
Currently Super Hornet maintenance training is being conducted in the United
States. It is expected that all Super Hornet maintenance training will be
conducted in Australia from January 2010.
Media contacts:
Rod Hilton (Greg Combet):
02 6277 7620 or 0458 276 619
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
