Mon, Sep 12, 2005
US Training Firm Buys All 34 Aircraft
New Zealand's Minister of Defense, Mark Burton, says his
country's air force has sold its entire combat wing -- comprised of
34 Skyhawk and Aermacchi aircraft -- to a private American company,
Tactical Air Services, Inc. for around $155 million (US$110 million
).
"This is an excellent outcome. The money received from the sale
after aircraft regeneration, shipping and other costs associated
with the sale will be available to continue the program of
developing a modern, relevant defence force," Burton said.
"There has been much speculation on the eventual fate of the air
combat fleet including misinformed comment about the Skyhawks being
scrapped. All parties will therefore be pleased to see this
successful outcome."
Executives at Tactical Air Services said the recent addition of
European aerospace giant Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica
company, as the company's "corner stone" shareholder means Tactical
Air Services can now complete the acquisition of the New Zealand
air combat force aircraft. Finmeccanica is also the parent of
Aermacchi SpA, the manufacturer of the RNZAF Aermacchi
aircraft.
The sale is conditional upon the formal agreement of the US
State Department permitting the importation of the aircraft into
the United States as well as the required End User Certificates
from New Zealand and Italy. These matters have already been
extensively discussed with the respective foreign government
departments and no problems were anticipated in finalizing the
arrangements.
Burton said work on returning the
Skyhawks to operational status will get underway in Blenheim,
conducted by Safe Air Limited. The Aermacchi fleet is already fully
operational, he said. Both fleets will be progressively shipped to
the US over the next few months.
"Given the considerable interest in advancing this matter from
other political parties I am sure that they will welcome this
announcement, Burton said in a statement to Aero-News. "I am
particularly pleased that the regeneration work required to bring
the Skyhawks back to operational status is going to a New Zealand
company, Blenheim's Safe Air. This recognizes the high level of New
Zealand expertise in aircraft engineering."
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