Hawker Pacific signs King Air B200 contract

The New Zealand Defence Force have signed a contract with Hawker Pacific New Zealand for the supply and maintenance support of four King Air B200 aircraft.

The King Air B200 is a high performance turboprop aircraft that has proven itself to Defence forces across the world as a flexible and reliable platform”, Craig Purry, Vice President for Government Business Hawker Pacific said.

“The B200 aircraft is a critical component of our fleet as it will be our interim advanced pilot training aircraft and also provide a domestic air transport capability,” Air Vice-Marshal Peter Stockwell, Chief of Air Force said.

“The five year performance based-contract encompasses an innovative finance leasing solution provided through Hawker Pacific New Zealand. It also provides support arrangements utilising the unique and efficient Hawker-developed Hybrid Airworthiness processes which have been specifically tailored to meet the demanding RNZAF training and air lift operational requirements,” Purry said.

Since being notified as the preferred tenderer the fleet of aircraft has been purchased and ferried to New Zealand, modified, tested and accepted, including gaining the necessary airworthiness approval of both NZCAA and NZDF.

Prior to entering service, Hawker Pacific installed a range of modifications to the aircraft intended to meet the operational needs of the RNZAF as well as to supplement the factory standard advanced Rockwell Collins Pro-Line 21 avionics suite and Pratt and Whitney PT6 turbo-prop engines.