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The Lockheed Martin subsidiary has become the second defence industry company to be officially certified as a Maintenance Training Organisation.
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Sikorsky Australia has been officially approved as an Aircraft Maintenance Training Organisation (MTO) by the Defence Aviation Safety Authority (DASA).
Th firm is now eligible to deliver type course aircraft training to its staff, defence and industry partners under DASA’s Defence Airworthiness Safety Regulations (DASR) Part 147 requirements.
This includes the training of Sikorsky and defence personnel on MH-60R (Romeo) and S-70A-9 (Black Hawk) helicopter platforms in both the avionics and mechanical trade categories.
“To be recognised as an MTO and meet Australia’s strict aviation training regulations, which are seen as a benchmark by many nations, is an important outcome for Sikorsky Australia and our customers,” Dale Hall, general manager of Sikorsky Australia, said.
“The MTO certification directly underpins our current operations to sustain the Romeo and Black Hawk helicopters in support of the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm and the Australian Army.
“The Romeos and Black Hawks provide critical defence capability for the RAN and the Australian Army to defend Australia’s national security.”
Hall continued, “Receiving MTO certification means that our training program will provide the highest level of quality and safety assurance in our aviation maintenance training to the RAN, our customers and the wider defence community.”
Sikorsky can now issue Romeo and Black Hawk Types Accreditation to participants upon completion of training, which the firm said would enhance the quality and safety standards of military aviation across Australia.
According to Sikorsky, its MTO offers a program of theory and practical based training and assessments for aircraft maintenance qualifications, in accordance with DASA’s compliance regulations.
The MTO program was developed by a team of Sikorsky’s aviation instructors over an 18-month period, in collaboration with DASA to ensure all elements of the training program from instructor guides, lesson plans, examinations, theoretical and practical modules aligned with DASA’s Part 147 regulatory standards.
“I’m proud of our training team for their sustained focus in successfully delivering a nationally recognised industry training curriculum in collaboration with DASA,” Hall added.
“DASA’s in-depth advice and ongoing support during our path of creating the training courseware was invaluable in helping us to achieve this positive outcome.”
Sikorsky’s maintenance and support facility in Albatross Aviation Technology Park houses through-life-support services for the RAN’s fleet of 24 Romeo maritime helicopters and support for the Army’s Black Hawk helicopters.
The Romeo fleet was built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, with the full fleet delivered to the RAN in 2016.
[Related: Sikorsky Australia to provide continued support for Navy Romeo helicopters]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
