Page 10 - AVALON 2023 - Day 1 | DAILY NEWS

BELL DELIVERS 429S TO SPEARPOINT

NEW ZEALAND CUSTOMER BLOWS UP

DECOY FIGHTER

One interesting product being pro-
moted at Avalon Airshow 2023 is a 1:1
scale inflatable decoy Su-30 fighter jet.
Spearpoint Solutions & Technology is
the Asia-Pacific agent for inflatable
decoys made by Czech firm Inflatech
Decoy.

The decoys are easily set up and dis-
mantled, and the Su-30 decoy, for
example, weighs just 140kg. It is easily
transported inside a pallet.
Various aircraft and vehicles, correctly
coloured, patterned and with the correct
livery, can be produced by Inflatech. Not
Bell Textron announced on the opening day 3,300 hours annually. only that, but they present the relevant
of Avalon Airshow 2023 that it had delivered visual, thermal and radar cross-section
a pair of Bell 429 helicopters to Advanced Jacinto Monge, Managing Director, Asia signatures to deceive an enemy tac-
Flight, New Zealand’s largest helicopter Pacific, Bell, commented on the deliv- tically and operationally. Compatible
charter and management company. ery: ‘The Bell 429 remains the light twin payloads and munitions for aircraft can
corporate helicopter of choice across even be produced as well.
What is special about these aircraft is that Asia-Pacific, as our corporate customers
they are finished in a Designer Series interior continue to experience how the comfort Andrew Jiear, Spearpoint’s CEO, said,
with upgraded cabin materials, coordinated and reliability of the Bell 429 support their ‘This capability aids in manoeuvre and
colour schemes and soundproofing. The businesses and lifestyle.’ will enhance survivability of key warf-
Designer Series was launched in March ighting platforms that can be scarce
2022. For his part, Keith Stephens, CEO of and incredibly expensive assets.’
Advanced Flight, said: ‘At Advanced Flight,
Their arrival means that Advanced Flight both our pilots and engineering teams have
many years of experience operating the Bell
now has three VIP-configured Bell 429s in 429 throughout New Zealand.’
its fleet. The company also operates three
Bell 429s on behalf of the New Zealand Since its certification in 2009, more than
Police Air Support Unit. Awarded a contract 400 Bell 429 helicopters have achieved in
in 2018, these helicopters cumulatively fly excess of 500,000 flight hours to date.

THALES AUSTRALIA decades in terms of light, medium, heavy
and protected vehicle maintenance, while
AND RGM TEAM UP it has also collaborated with Thales for
the past 15 years. For example, the two
Thales Australia and RGM Maintenance partnered on the painting and surface
have announced an agreement to enhance preparation of 40 Bushmasters dispatched
the support of the Australian Defence to Ukraine.
Force’s (ADF) heavy vehicle fleet. RGM,
which is based in Queensland, will support Cam Purdey, Director of Defence
Thales in northern Queensland and Darwin Maintenance Services, Thales Australia
to ‘broaden the availability of maintenance and New Zealand, explained: ‘We are very
capabilities for defence bases’. excited about this new partnership with
RGM. This is a clear demonstration of the
A press release stated, ‘The collaboration Thales’ long-term commitment to growing
will help the prime contractor access spe- and maintaining an enduring, sustainable,
cialised skills, experiences, and training to and resilient sovereign industrial defence
support the maintenance of the Australian capability – increasing the skills of the ‘RGM is very proud of the relationship we
military’s heavy vehicle fleet. It is hoped that defence industry workforce and growing have had with Thales over the last 15 years,
the partnership will reduce the cost of heavy employment opportunities throughout originally with a contract to support the
vehicle transport.’ regional Australia.’ Bushmaster training fleet and the growth
that has led from there. We strive for excel-
RGM has been supporting the ADF for two Russell Newman, Director of RGM, added, lence in maintenance delivery for the ADF.’
10 | FEBRUARY-28-2023 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS