May 2012 - Boeing Australia

Williamtown defence facility gainsISO 14001 environmental credentialsBoeing Defence, Space & SecurityAustralia orders a sixth C-17 for fl eetBoeing Defence Australia’s (BDA)environmental credentials werestrengthened last month when itsWilliamtown facility became thesecond site to achieve ISO 14001certifi cation within the past 12 months.The ISO standard helps organisationsprotect the environment and preventpollution. It specifi es a process for thecontrol and continuous improvementof an organisation’s environmentalperformance through an EnvironmentManagement System.BDA achieved ISO 14001 certifi cationfor its facility at Royal Australian AirForce Base Williamtown, east ofNewcastle, following a rigorous threedayaudit.One of Australia’s largest Boeingsites, BDA Williamtown supports theAustralian Defence Force’s F/A 18 –Hornet Upgrade Program Phase 2.3and is home to the Airborne EarlyWarning & Control Wedgetail In-Service Support program.The latest site certifi cation furtherdemonstrates BDA’s ability to operateeffectively while still respecting andprotecting the environment.“Certifying this particular site was notan insignifi cant undertaking,” saidAllanagh Rivers, BDA environmentmanager. “Completing anenvironmental audit within three daysis a great outcome.“Achieving certifi cation is evidencethat we are environmentally consciousas a business. With growing publicand stakeholder awareness aboutsustainability and environmentalreporting, the business acknowledgesits responsibility to remain transparentabout how it manages or mitigatesenvironmental impacts,” Rivers said.The next site to be audited this yearwill be Oakey, the home of BDA’s ArmyAviation Training and Training Supportoperations.The fi fth RAAF C-17 fl ies away after handover in the US on September 14, 2011. During the arrivalceremony in Australia, the government announced its intent to procure a sixth C-17 airlifter.Minister for Defence Stephen Smithand Minister for Defence Materiel JasonClare announced in April that Australiawill purchase a 6th C-17 Globemasterheavy-lift aircraft through the United StatesForeign Military Sales program.Minister Smith said the acquisition willdouble the number of aircraft available foroperations at any one time from two tofour.“A sixth C-17 will give the Governmentincreased options to support a widerrange of contingencies that might requireheavy-lift aircraft and will extend the life ofthe C-17 fl eet by reducing the use of eachaircraft,” Minister Smith said.“In addition to a busy schedule supportingthe men and women of the AustralianDefence Force, Australia’s existingfl eet of fi ve C-17s has supported vitalhumanitarian missions around the globeand has consistently been among thefi rst responders to worldwide disasters,”said Bill Profi let, Boeing Defense, Space &Security director of International BusinessDevelopment for Australia.“The presence of Australia’s C-17aircraft at hot spots around the worlddemonstrates Australia’s role as a valuedally and global partner. The outstandingpartnership with the customer, the US AirForce and the Boeing team to expeditedelivery of Australia’s fi fth C-17 had a directand positive impact on this opportunity.”The acquisition of the fi fth C-17 wasannounced by the Australian Governmentin March 2011 and the aircraft arrived inAustralia in September 2011.The C-17 aircraft can lift very large andheavy cargoes over long distancesproviding a signifi cant contribution toAustralia’s ability to reach and respondto events. One C-17 can carry up to fourC-130 Hercules loads in a single lift andcover twice the distance in three-quarters ofthe time of a C-130.Boeing anticipates delivery of the sixthAustralian C-17 from the company’s fi nalassembly facility in Long Beach, California,later this year.As a member of the worldwide C-17“virtual fl eet,” RAAF C-17s are supportedthrough the Boeing C-17 GlobemasterIII Integrated Sustainment Program, aperformance-based logistics agreement.The arrangement provides the highest airliftmission capable rate at one of the lowestcosts per fl ying hour.Boeing has delivered 241 C-17s worldwide,including 216 to the US Air Force activeduty, Guard and Reserve units. A total of25 C-17s have been delivered to Australia,Canada, Qatar, the UAE, the UK and the12-member Strategic Airlift Capabilityinitiative of NATO and Partnership for Peacenations. India has 10 C-17s on order fordelivery in 2013 and 2014.May 2012 • Boeing Australia & South Pacifi c • Velocity 2