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Boeing Australia Component Repairs (BACR) now has the ability to overhaul CH-47 Chinook rotor blades, which brings new capability to Australia and delivers time and efficiency savings to local operators of the platform.
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BACR’s engineering expertise, repair facilities, equipment and experience provide valued and flexible repair solutions to both local and international commercial and defence customers.
Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) director sustainment operations, Darryn Fletcher, said, "Until now, rotor blades have been shipped to the US for overhaul work.
"BACR’s accreditation provides customers with faster turnaround, enabling them to better maintain and restore airworthiness of these robust, multi-mission rotorcraft."
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a versatile, twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots (315 kilometres per hour) is faster than many contemporary utility and attack helicopters. Its primary roles include troop movement, artillery emplacement and battlefield resupply.
The Chinook's primary roles include troop movement, artillery emplacement and battlefield resupply. There is a wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three external-cargo hooks underneath. With more powerful engines, larger composite rotor blades and advanced avionics systems, the latest Chinook is faster than many attack helicopters.
"While the Commonwealth of Australia will be the initial customer, this unique Australian MRO capability will enable BACR to service international CH-47 customers."
There is a wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three external-cargo hooks underneath. With more powerful engines, larger composite rotor blades and advanced avionics systems, the latest Chinook is faster than many attack helicopters.
Fletcher said, "Developing in-country capability also supplements BACR’s extensive portfolio of maintenance, repair and overhaul services and provides another practical means for Boeing to minimise costs and deliver improved value-for-money solutions to our customers."
The rotor blade overhaul capability, which typically involves composite structure repairs for damage ranging from lightning to bird strikes, complements BDA’s CH-47 integrated support services contract (ISSC). The ISSC delivers training, engineering and maintenance support to optimise readiness of the Australian Army’s Chinook fleet.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
