Cobham wins QinetiQ contract to provide helicopter support
Cobham Helicopter Services Business Unit have signed a contract with QinetiQ for the provision of helicopter support to the Empire Test Pilots' School (ETPS) and Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron (RWTES).
ETPS and RWTES are jointly operated by QinetiQ and the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) under the Long-Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA).
Cobham will provide a single Bell412 HAR2 helicopter, aircrew training, and supporting maintenance personnel to be based at MoD Boscombe Down. The contract, valued at circa £2 million, commenced May 2016 and will be for an 18 month period.
Peter Nottage, Sector President, Cobham Aviation Services commented: "We are delighted to win this new contract with QinetiQ to support both ETPS and RWTES. The helicopter will be operated on the military register and the contract is evidence of our considerable experience of delivering Military Registered Contractor Owned aircraft (MRCOA) under long term performance based contracts. We look forward to working with QinetiQ to deliver these services."
John Anderson, Managing Director for QinetiQ's Air and Space business, said: "This aircraft and associated services are welcome additions to ETPS, which trains some of the world's finest test pilots and engineers. The contract demonstrates the way in which we work with industry partners to provide value for money to the MoD."