New Zealand To Purchase T-6C Trainers Worth $127 Million

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has signed a contract worth $127 million to buy 11 Beechcraft T-6Cs to meet its requirement for an advanced pilot training capability, and includes simulators and classroom- and computer-based training packages.

New Zealand requires an intermediate trainer with a glass cockpit that will be able to take students from the Pacific Aerospace CT-4E Airtrainer to the Lockheed Martin P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, Boeing 757 and upgraded Lockheed C-130H transports, plus the AgustaWestland AW109, NH Industries NH90 and future Kaman SH-2G(I) Seasprite helicopters, according to Flight Global.

The Pilot Training Capability project was announced in the Defence White Paper 2010. A request for information (RFI) was issued to industry in October 2011, and Beechcraft’s T-6C demonstrator made a tour to New Zealand in 2012, and was used to fly a number of Royal New Zealand Air Force officers. The extent to which other competing aircraft were evaluated is unknown.

Under the deal, CAE simulators will be installed at the air force's Ohakea base and supported by CAE Australia. 

The T-6Cs will be operated by 14 Sqn, which previously flew the Aermacchi MB-339CB in the advanced training and light attack roles, until the disbandment of the New Zealand’s air combat force in 2001, the report said. 

A first aircraft will be delivered in mid-2015, but will be owned by Beechcraft and used to train maintenance personnel. Training facilities and simulators should also be in place by the same time, enabling the first qualified flying instructor course to begin.

Basic pilot training is currently carried out on the CT-4E, but structural problems with the leased fleet have reportedly caused backlogs in the output of qualified pilots. The type is scheduled to reach the end of its service life in 2018. Advanced and twin-engined training is conducted with the Beechcraft King Air 200, which are leased under a contract that will expire in 2018.