Australian Aerospace Engineering (AAE) has formally opened its new, purpose-built 1,900m2 Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Albury Airport, further expanding its ability to support Defence and civilian aviation operations.
As part of its work with Lockheed Martin Australia, AAE has been supplying components for the Seahawk helicopter sustainment program in Nowra, establishing years of experience which has provided a solid foundation to support expansion into supplying components and specialist MRO services for the Black Hawk sustainment program.
“Lockheed Martin Australia is highly committed to growing Australia's sovereign rotary wing supply chain support for both fleets of Seahawk and Black Hawk aircraft,” Sikorsky Australia’s General Manager, Cliff Kyle, said.
“AAE is a great example of the specialist expertise that exists in the small to medium enterprise sector in Australia. As the Blackhawk and the Seahawk fleet sustainment operations increase and mature, Australian industry capability will be critical to ensure operational success for our Australian Defence Force.”
Formed in 2005, AAE is a family operated business providing parts distribution and complex maintenance, repair, overhaul and manufacturing activities.
Building on three generations of aviation experience in the region, AAE began upgrading their quality certifications, software systems, and security compliance in 2017 to meet Defence requirements.
This allowed the company to develop strong relationships with the ADF, Lockheed Martin Australia, Sikorsky Australia, Pilatus Australia, BAE Systems and Pennant Australasia, while also maintaining their support of civilian clients such as Qantas, Regional Express, and Toll Helicopters.
In 2021, the company also engaged with Eaton from the USA, establishing a relationship that has led to AAE becoming the only organisation in the Asia/Pacific region that can produce Eaton’s Aeroquip certified aviation hoses.
These hoses are found on multiple aviation platforms with AAE supplying them for civilian and Defence aircraft, including Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat.
“Working with Defence is a long-term opportunity that we did not expect to happen overnight,” AAE’s Chief Executive Officer, Adam Johnston, said.
“We’re 10 years into our journey and we know we’re going to grow and develop together with Defence, allowing us to support this country in a significant manner as the years roll on.”
Having experienced a 25 per cent compounding growth rate over the previous five years, the company intends to continue growing, relying on its use of technology and in-house developed software packages to maintain control of overheads and staff numbers.
“The goal is not to eliminate staff but to help us manage our work smarter, removing the mundane aspects of our work,” AAE’s Chief Operating Officer, Viv Johnston, said.
A component of AAE’s growth has been co-funded through the Australian Government’s Defence Industry Development Grant, allowing the company to establish a new heated spray booth and a non-destructive testing capability.
“I think the co-funding is a great testament to the government getting behind SMEs like ourselves, helping us stand up capabilities to support our country and develop the sovereign industry Australia really needs,” Adam Johnston said.