Whoppa Army project given to civvies in Australia
Thread Starter
Whoppa Army project given to civvies in Australia
Today, in that Friday newspaper that circulates in Australia is the release of a Request for Tender from the Army (ADF) to provide a range of services which will really strain the resources of the Australasian helicopter community.
Highlights are:
Helicopter conversion courses for Kiowa and Blackhawks.
Maintenance training on Blackhawks.
Courseware support for flying and maintenance training.
Maintenance of 24 Kiowa helicopters and six Blackhawks.
Support for the loadmaster courses.
Provide a crash response helicopter with all crew.
Provide some maintenance manpower to units in Darwin, Oakey and Townsville.
RFT issued 9 June 2006.
Tenders close 11 Sep 2006.
Start 27 March 2007.
What a whoppa of a project?
Get your running shoes on – but does the civil industry have the horsepower to take this wonderful project on, at a time when shortages in the mid to higher level parts of our industry exist.
What do you guys think??
If you need a scan of the advert just PM me, but this weekend is a holiday and I am going bush for a few days.
Highlights are:
Helicopter conversion courses for Kiowa and Blackhawks.
Maintenance training on Blackhawks.
Courseware support for flying and maintenance training.
Maintenance of 24 Kiowa helicopters and six Blackhawks.
Support for the loadmaster courses.
Provide a crash response helicopter with all crew.
Provide some maintenance manpower to units in Darwin, Oakey and Townsville.
RFT issued 9 June 2006.
Tenders close 11 Sep 2006.
Start 27 March 2007.
What a whoppa of a project?
Get your running shoes on – but does the civil industry have the horsepower to take this wonderful project on, at a time when shortages in the mid to higher level parts of our industry exist.
What do you guys think??
If you need a scan of the advert just PM me, but this weekend is a holiday and I am going bush for a few days.
Join Date: Nov 2005
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The truth to the matter is that there currently is a civilian contract that covers all this but its being done by two different contractors at the moment. How do I know? I'm one of the contractors.
Thread Starter
How do we provide the resources?
Jessie 13. Thank you for the feedback.
If your contract is expanded to take on this extra work; (I assume you are on the short list), then is there sufficient capacity in the civilain community to take over from the ADF in order to release more people for the operational units?
As an industy watcher, I have noted our industry is growing at about 7-8% pa. In fact, we doubled in size in eleven years and will do so in about 6-7 years, if current growth continues.
The economy (GDP) looks healthy and I assume we will have good times over the next five years. Yesterday they said our unemploymen rate overall was down to 4.6%, so the GDP growth looks assured.
With an ageing pilot population, and especially a too old average age engineer workforce (with few apprenticeships) we are in an awkward position to man the civilian growth.
So what is your general assessment?
If your contract is expanded to take on this extra work; (I assume you are on the short list), then is there sufficient capacity in the civilain community to take over from the ADF in order to release more people for the operational units?
As an industy watcher, I have noted our industry is growing at about 7-8% pa. In fact, we doubled in size in eleven years and will do so in about 6-7 years, if current growth continues.
The economy (GDP) looks healthy and I assume we will have good times over the next five years. Yesterday they said our unemploymen rate overall was down to 4.6%, so the GDP growth looks assured.
With an ageing pilot population, and especially a too old average age engineer workforce (with few apprenticeships) we are in an awkward position to man the civilian growth.
So what is your general assessment?
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The current two contracts (Kiowa support-Boeing, and Blackhawk- Helitech) are all civilian with only a handfull of military people there in a support role. The bulk of the military people are SNCO's and officers (non-workers) and all the maintenance is done by the civvies. There will actually be an increase on the floor of military personnel to mentor and assess trainee's because it is a performance based contract so little time can be spent looking after the needs of trainee's by the civvies. You'll be surprised at the amount of people in the pipeline at the moment that will go to the different companies from the various training organisations around Australia, but the problem is the amount of mentors to look after them once they get into a job. We are currently seeing the effect of it with people who have just finished their NAC competentcies (CERT IV Aeroskills) and then become the mentors for the new batch of trainees. So the big hole is the amount of tradesmen in the 10-15 year mark with the experience to properly mentor trainees. I've seen enough over the years of tradesmen having to look after 5-6 trainees at a time as well as carry out their own duties. Companies out there (not all of them) who take on trainees have to realise that they do need the time to train these people properly because they are the future of the industry. Myself, I've about had enough of the aviation industry because of various things so if anyone (preferbly female) requires a toy boy, I'm suitably qualified.
Thread Starter
Once again thanks to Jessie 13.
I agree. As I mentioned before our shortages are in the mid level areas.
In one paper I published last year, I mentioned management (supervision) people are in short supply, and as you mentioned, it is their knowledge that must be passed onto the younger people.
The bottom line is that overseas technicians may be to only option for our industrial basin Australasia.
It is happening everywhere, for example the motor industry, according to recent TV current affairs shows.
We live in very exciting times.
Have a great long weekend - Australian holiday.
I agree. As I mentioned before our shortages are in the mid level areas.
In one paper I published last year, I mentioned management (supervision) people are in short supply, and as you mentioned, it is their knowledge that must be passed onto the younger people.
The bottom line is that overseas technicians may be to only option for our industrial basin Australasia.
It is happening everywhere, for example the motor industry, according to recent TV current affairs shows.
We live in very exciting times.
Have a great long weekend - Australian holiday.
