$139m chopper fleet for Ohakea
By CHRISTIAN BONNEVIE - Manawatu Standard | Friday, 09 May 2008
The purchase of five training helicopters destined for Ohakea has been set in concrete at a cost of $139 million.
Defence Minister Phil Goff signed the contract with Italian manufacturer Augusta-Westland yesterday, with the A109 light-utility aircraft expected to be in service from 2011 - a year later than initially projected.
Mr Goff said the Government chose a "higher-cost aircraft", the price of which had not previously been divulged, because of its operating capability at sea.
The contract also includes a flight simulator and an extensive package of spare parts, onboard equipment and tools.
Mr Goff said the A109 complements the Government's earlier decision to purchase eight NH90 medium-utility helicopters at a cost of $771 million.
"The combined purchase of the two new helicopter fleets is a huge step forward in modernising the New Zealand Defence Force," he said.
"Helicopters play a key role across all three services of the Defence Force.
"They are amongst the most useful and heavily utilised forms of equipment - having utility for deployment, counter terrorism, command and control, search and rescue and disaster relief."
Mr Goff said the two new fleets were designed to serve for the next 30 years.
At 1670kg when empty, the A109 is a lightweight, twin-engined helicopter with a glass cockpit and a retractable wheeled undercarriage.
With a maximum speed of 285kmh, it is faster than the Iroquois and its specifications are more suitable for training than the two-seater Sioux, which it replaces.
Chief of Air Force Air Vice- Marshal Graham Lintott said the introduction of the A109 would see the rotary wing training capabilities become world class.
The aircraft would primarily be used for training pilots and aircrew.
www.stuff.co.nz/manawatustandard/4517946a6003.htmlAir Force purchases new helicopters
May 9, 2008 8:18 AM
The purchase of five new helicopters for the Air Force has seen the governemnt's spending on new aircraft in the past year soar to almost a billion dollars.
Defence Minister Phil Goff has signed off on a $139 million deal with Italian-helicopter manufacturer Agusta-Westland for five new light utility helicopters.
It follows last year's purchase of eight new helicopters for $771 million.
Phil Goff says it is a huge step forward for the defence force, and gives our personnel some of the best equipment in the world.
He says the government has chosen a more expensive type of helicopter to buy this time, because they will last at least 30 years.
Goff says the helicopters are likely to be deployed overseas with New Zealand peacekeepers.
tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1318360/1771300Helicopter bill up $29m
The Dominion Post | Friday, 09 May 2008
The Government is paying $139 million to buy five new training helicopters for the air force – $29 million above the cost of previous estimates.
The contract to buy five Italian- made AgustaWestland A109UH helicopters was signed yesterday by Defence Minister Phil Goff. The aircraft, which are scheduled to go into service in 2011, will be based at Ohakea and will replace the air force's Sioux training helicopters.
Mr Goff said the higher cost was because he had opted for a light utility model that was capable of operating off ships.
It also had ballistic protection, military communications and a winch.
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/4517400a23917.htmlNZ to spend $139m on state-of-the-art choppers
The Government has signed a $139 million contract for five new state-of-the-art helicopters which Defence Minister Phil Goff says will serve the air force for the next 30 years.
The contract will deliver five Agusta-Westland A109LUH light utility helicopters, their spares and a flight simulator.
"It's a big day for the air force," Mr Goff said when he signed the contract in the Beehive.
"The Agusta-Westland is more than just a generational change in technology from the old Sioux training helicopter it replaces.
"It fulfils all of the larger helicopter's roles and is much faster."
The new helicopters, which will enter service in 2011, will have defence and rescue roles, as well as being used to train pilots for the eight NH-90 medium utility helicopters they Government has decided to buy at a cost of $771m.
"Helicopters play a key role across all three services of the Defence Force," Mr Goff said.
"They are amongst the most useful and heavily utilised forms of equipment, having the ability for deployment, counter terrorism, command and control, search and rescue and disaster relief."
Air force chief Air Vice-Marshall Graham Lintott said the contract was another step in building New Zealand's military capability.
The air force's training capabilities would be world class with the new helicopters and the flight simulator.
The contract was signed on behalf of Agusta-Westland by the company's Australian manager, Phil Smith.
Agusta-Westland is based in Italy, and the signing was witnessed by the Italian Ambassador to New Zealand Gioacchino Carlo Trizziono.
The company is one of the biggest helicopter builders in the world and the A109LUH is already used in many countries, including Britain, the United States, Australian, South Africa and Sweden.
- NZPA
www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10508920
