News & Events from MT&SN

RAAF GETS C-17 ATS

The RAAF has a new C-17 training system.

Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have commissioned a C-17 Globemaster III Aircrew Training System (ATS) at RAAF Base Amberley.

The C-17 ATS, provided through a US Air Force Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract, was delivered for assembly and testing to Amberley in late April 2009, making Australia the first C-17 ATS customer outside the United States.

"The commissioning of the C-17 ATS is pivotal to the continued training of a new generation of qualified C-17 airlifter crews," said Group Captain Andrew Doyle, Director of the C-17 Heavy Air Lift Acquisition Project for the RAAF. "We appreciate the team effort put forth by the US Air Force, Boeing and its subcontractors, and various agencies within the Australian Department of Defence in delivering this great capability."

Continuation training for current RAAF C-17 pilots and loadmasters commenced in January and February saw the first intake of new RAAF pilot students seeking initial qualification. Boeing Defence Australia will provide instructors for these courses, as well as scheduling and logistics support. Subcontractor Thales Australia will perform future maintenance on the training devices which have been built by FlightSafety International.

The C-17 ATS consists of a Weapons Systems Trainer (WST), a Loadmaster Station, a Learning Centre and various support systems. The WST is a realistic, full-motion simulator used for pilot training. The Loadmaster Station is used by students to practice preflight operations, operation of aircraft systems, and emergency procedures.

The Australian C-17 ATS is the 12th Boeing-developed, -operated and -supported ATS site. A total of 11 sites are currently active in the United States, providing training to the US Air Force and customers in the United Kingdom and Canada.

Each year, the C-17 ATS provides initial instruction to more than 1,500 new pilot, co-pilot and loadmaster students and follow-up training to more than 8,000 students of customers from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. Boeing is currently believed to be discussing the location of a C-17 training centre in Europe

to support Royal Air Force and NATO training requirements. It is thought that with threats by Airbus Military to cancel the A400M project, C-17 use in Europe could well flourish.