Serco awarded RAF glider fleet contract
Sercos Defence business has been awarded a contract to provide all the spare parts for the RAFs Grob Viking TMk1 glider fleet.
Image courtesy Serco
This new contract is in addition to the current contract that Serco has to provide maintenance for the glider fleet.
In a related move Serco has also acquired a specialist Robin DR400/180R aircraft to launch RAF Air Cadets gliders into the air.
In addition to these two new contracts, last year Serco secured a two-year extension to the Glider Maintenance contract until March 2022 and Serco’s specialist glider maintenance team already works to ensure that airworthy Viking Glider aircraft and effective engineering support are available to meet the needs of 2 Flying Training School (2 FTS).
The School delivers a glider flying experience in a military environment, including solo flying, for RAF Air Training Corp Cadets through a Centralised Gliding School (CGS) and Volunteer Gliding Squadrons (VGS) at several sites across the UK. At the 2019 RAF Aerospace Cadets Summer Camp, Serco enabled a flying experience for around 300 cadets in one week at RAF Syerston.
Commenting on the contract award, Paul McCarter Managing Director, Serco Defence, said: “We are delighted to be broadening the support we are providing for the RAF glider fleet and helping to give cadets a flying experience. Through consolidating the Glider Maintenance, spares and aerotow contracts Serco will provide an integrated and cost-effective solution for the Royal Air Force.”
The RAF Air Cadets are a UK-wide cadet force with more than 40,000 members aged between 12 and 20 years. Sponsored by the RAF, the Air Cadets promote and encourage a practical interest in aviation and the RAF Force among young people, provide training which will be useful in the Services and civilian life and encourage the spirit of adventure and develop qualities of leadership and good citizenship.