RFDS insources engineering operations

Eighteen staff joined the RFDS from former maintenance and engineering provider Hawker Pacific. They are now employed across six RFDS base locations statewide.

Adam Clegg, RFDS (Queensland Section) Manager Engineering Operations, said the transition would provide the Service with absolute control of the end product. “The decision to insource our engineering operations was driven by higher external stakeholder compliance levels and the ability to own our own risk in relation to aircraft maintenance. For example, we will now be more responsive to aircraft defect rectification.”

Aircraft safety and quality management systems

“Along with adoption of a new aviation software product, we will have full visibility of engineering related functions in order to measure performance and identify greater efficiencies in the future. In-house engineering operations will ultimately allow us to also drive a better product through the use of our safety and quality management systems,” Clegg said.

He added that the transition would also improve staff engagement for the engineering and maintenance team who had become part of the RFDS. “While Hawker Pacific have been our sole maintenance provider for the past three years, they have a long history with the RFDS, reaching back over 40 years, and we will ensure this relationship extends well into the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, the RFDS medical staff have been using medical simulation technology to fight the coronavirus. Flight nurses and medical officers in Queensland have been taking part in simulated scenarios at the Traeger Clinical Innovation and Learning Centre at the RFDS Brisbane Base since the pandemic started.