http://www.defpro.com/news/details/6529/
15:18 GMT, April 1, 2009 As AirTanker Services (ATrS) celebrates the first anniversary of the signing of the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) contract, the company announces the completion of the first programme milestones.
Various elements of the FSTA service, which is designed to replace the RAF’s fleet of VC10 and TriStar aircraft in air-to-air refuelling and most passenger air transport roles, have triumphantly reached the end of their development.
The successes so far include the infrastructure building programme at RAF Brize Norton which has transformed a selection of pre-1960 RAF amenities into modern, updated facilities. In mid-November 2008, ATrS completed and handed over these re-provided facilities at RAF Brize Norton which included bulk diesel and waste fuel tanks, air side motor transport parking, wash pan drainage facilities and a petrol, oil and lubricants store.
Work has started on the next stage of the FSTA service infrastructure in the form of the construction of a two-bay hangar and associated workshops as well as what will be four-floor office accommodation for the RAF’s two FSTA squadrons, the MOD’s Integrated Project Team and AirTanker personnel.
Training and information systems development work is well underway, with good progress and all contract milestones achieved to programme, and the recruitment drive to build up the ATrS team with experienced, highly competent personnel has been successful with over 30 new recruits delivering good results.
Dave Mitchard, Managing Director of ATrS, said: “I am delighted to be in a position to announce these early successes in the delivery of the FSTA programme. I am really proud of our highly motivated and results-orientated team, who have hit the ground running. We are all committed to building on these achievements and will strive to deliver the next project milestones in equally good time.
“Working with the MOD at RAF Brize Norton has been a most rewarding experience and we look forward to continuing to develop these positive relationships.
“The FSTA programme will provide the MOD and the RAF with the most advanced air transport and refuelling equipment, representing a step-change in performance. The new Airbus A330 FSTA fleet will deliver unrivalled levels of capability, and AirTanker Services, working with the MOD, will put in place the new fleet and service.”
Whilst ATrS is primarily involved with establishing the support solution for FSTA, the aircraft development programme is also on schedule. On 25 February 2009, the first FSTA wingset was completed at Airbus UK’s Broughton factory and was then loaded onto a Beluga aircraft for the onward journey to Bremen, Germany, for final equipping and then Toulouse, France, for final assembly.
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April 1, 2009 at 4:43 pm