Thu, May 05, 2011
Airplane Will "Transform The Fleet," Vice Marshal Says
The Royal New Zealand Air Force has accepted the first upgraded
P-3K2 Orion from the Ministry of Defence during a short ceremony at
Air Force Base Whenuapai. Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Peter
Stockwell said the upgraded aircraft represents a significant
advance in technology and will introduce a fundamental change to
the capability of No. 5 Squadron as they transition from their
traditional role as a Maritime Patrol Force to an Airborne
Surveillance and Response Force.
"The return of the P-3K2 Orion is an important milestone for the
RNZAF. The upgraded P-3K2 will transform the fleet, improving the
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability in
support of government agencies such as Fisheries and Customs, and
government directed military operations.
"The upgrade will enhance the aircraft's existing capability
across its range of missions including; long range maritime
surveillance, search and rescue, effective monitoring of our
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and supporting our South Pacific and
Asia Pacific relationships," said AVM Stockwell.
The P-3K2 Orion project includes upgrades to the aircraft's
communication, navigation, surveillance and data management
systems; a state-of-the-art glass flight deck and mission
preparation and analysis systems. Also included in the upgrade are
crew training and software testing and integration tools. The
aircraft will now undergo a period of Operational Testing and
Evaluation (OT&E), which will enable the crews to develop the
procedures to optimise safe and effective use of the new systems to
maximise the capability of the transformed aircraft.
More News
Instrument Runway A runway equipped with electronic and visual navigation aids for which a precision or nonprecision approach procedure having straight-in landing minimums has been>[...]
Aero Linx: Alaska Airmen's Association The Alaska Airmen's Association includes over 2,000 members—we are one of the largest General Aviation communities in the country. We s>[...]
Also: Flt School Security, G600 Steep-Approach, Honduran Aid, PW545D Cert Two aircraft performing at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show clipped wings during a routine last Sunday, spooki>[...]
Also: SkyReach Parts Support, Piper Service Ctr, Airliner Near-Miss, Airshow London The Judge overseeing Icon's convoluted Chapter 11 process has approved $9 million in Chapter 11 >[...]
Also: Paramotor Champ's, Electric Ultralight, ICON BK Update, Burt Rutan at Oshkosh! The Popular Rotorcraft Association is reaching out for help in rebuilding their private runway >[...]