News Review: Turbomeca flags Australian expansion for Safran group | ADM Apr 2010

Turbomeca Australasia has opened its new Killara Building at Bankstown Airport in Sydney, to assemble and provide in-service support for its MTR390 and RTM322 turboshaft engines.

The new facility will also be home to the local defence and security electronics businesses of sister company SAGEM.

These engines power the Army's Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH) and MRH90 trooplift helicopters, respectively, and the RTM322 will also power the NH90 NFH if this is selected for the RAN under Phase 8 of Project Air 9000; an RFT for Ph.8 is expected within weeks, according to DMO sources.

The 1,800m2 Killara building houses the assembly and overhaul lines for both engine types; it was the first certified Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) centre for these engines worldwide and is still the only certified MTR390 MRO centre.

All 51 MTR390s have been delivered for the Army's 22 Tigers.

These have accumulated 5,400 flying hours already.

Turbomeca will also supply 106 RTM-322 for the ADF's 46 MRH90 helicopters.

Combet added that aircrew flying the MRH90 have praised the RTM322s, noting that aircraft need to be refuelled to increase their gross weight before certain training exercises simply so instructors can demonstrate the consequences of a single engine failure: the engines are so powerful that, when the aircraft is lightly laden, students notice little difference when one engine is lost.

The opening of the Killara building represents the second phase of a $15 million investment and expansion program for Turbomeca Australasia and its French parent company, SAFRAN.

Turbomeca's Bankstown workforce has grown from 18 people in 2000 to 140 people today.

The company's military engine fleet in Australia currently consists of the Arriel engines powering Navy's Squirrel training helicopters, the MTR390s for the Tigers and a planned 106 RTM322s for the MRH90s.

Turbomeca has an 11-year support contract for the MTR390, and last year signed a five year in-service support contract for the RTM322.

In addition, the Killara building will be the support base for sister company Microturbo's air turbine starters and Auxiliary Power Units for the RAAF's Hawk lead-in fighters and the MRH90.

While the current installed engine base supports an ongoing MRO, with some 70 per cent of its Arriel work alone for export customers, business, the company aims to secure more of the military helicopter engine market in the region, according to Turbomeca's chairman and CEO, Pierre Fabre.

And parent company Groupe SAFRAN is planning to refocus its Australian operations and pursue a bigger share of the local military market.

Some 12 separate subsidiaries, including Microturbo, Messier-Bugatti, Labinal, Turbomeca and SAGEM Defense et Securite already provide airframe, engine and avionics components for the MRH90, and the company is eyeing further opportunities for sensor, communications and other work across all three services, SAFRAN group's Sydney-based national executive Francois Romanet said.