Contract given for aircraft refinishing

Surface refinishing -- including painting -- of Australia's military aircraft will be performed by Boeing Defense Australia. The company, a subsidiary of Boeing of the United States, says the contract for services to the Australian air force is for three years and worth about $21.1 million. Aircraft to be remediated and painted include AP-3C Orions, C-130H Hercules, F/A-18 Hornets and Hawk-127 aircraft. The work will be performed at multiple locations in Australia and New Zealand. "This win is a testament to BDA's proven record of exceeding our customers' expectations with high-quality, affordable solutions," said Kim Gillis, managing director of Boeing Defense Australia. "The contract is expected to create up to a dozen new positions in Williamtown (in New South Wales) and to provide continued employment for employees at our Corrosion Control Facility at (air) Base Amberley in Queensland." BDA said Williamtown will become the primary facility for painting F/A-18 Hornets; Amberley will at first focus on the Hawk-127. BDA supplier Air New Zealand will provide paint finishing services for the AP-3C Orion in Christchurch, with maintenance support provided by Australian Aerospace. The C-130H Hercules will be painted by BDA supplier Flying Colours Aviation in Townsville, Queensland. "BDA has a decade of experience providing surface finishing services for the Australian (military), having completed 90 military fixed wing, rotary wing and fast jets at our Amberley facility," said Murray Brabrook, general manager, Integrated Logistics, BDA. "We look forward to partnering with the Aerospace Materiel Systems Program Office to provide a comprehensive paint solution that ensures ongoing operational effectiveness."