A new $470 million training facility for the RAAF’s new Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft has officially opened.
The RAAF Base Edinburgh facility was formally opened by Minister for Defence Senator Marise Payne and the Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne on August 17.
It includes two flight simulators, a full-scale fuselage ordnance trainer, two air combat officer trainers, and other synthetic and hands-on training devices, and is the largest P-8 training facility outside of the US.
“The facility will deliver over 39 separate training courses which will minimise training demands on the P-8A Poseidon aircraft, reducing aircraft fatigue, increasing safety and improving availability for higher priority tasking,” Minister Payne said in a statement.
“The training system will be maintained and supported by Boeing Defence Australia, creating up to 30 jobs,” Minister Pyne said.
“The project is part of a broader Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance hub being developed at RAAF Base Edinburgh.”
Boeing Defence Australia vice president and managing director Darren Edwards said, “We are incredibly proud of the comprehensive training solution we have installed to support Australia’s new maritime surveillance capability.
“Using virtual training environments, the men and women operating and maintaining the P-8A Poseidon can realistically rehearse for complex missions at a fraction of the cost of live aircraft training.”
