Page 59 - World Airnews Magazine May 2020 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

BOEING RECEIVES P-8A POSEIDON

CONTRACT

aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations.
A military derivative of the Boeing 737 Next-Generation airplane,
The US Navy has awarded Boeing a (US) $1.5 billion produc- the P-8 combines superior performance and reliability with an
tion contract for the next 18 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The contract advanced mission system that ensures maximum interoperability
in the battle space.
includes eight aircraft for the US navy, six aircraft for the Republic The P-8 is militarized with maritime weapons, a modern open
of Korea navy and four aircraft for the Royal New Zealand air mission system architecture and commercial-like support for
force. affordability. The aircraft is modified to include a bomb bay and
The Republic of Korea navy and Royal New Zealand air force pylons for weapons. It has two weapons stations on each wing and
acquired the aircraft through the foreign military sales process can carry 129 sono buoys. The aircraft is also fitted with an in-flight
and will receive the same P-8A Poseidon variant designed and refuelling system.
produced for the US navy. The Royal New Zealand air force is With more than 254,000 flight hours to date, the P-8A Poseidon
expected to begin receiving aircraft in 2022 and the Republic of and P-8I variants patrol the globe performing anti-submarine and
Korea navy is expected to begin receiving aircraft in 2023. anti-surface warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance;
The P-8 is a proven long-range multi-mission maritime patrol humanitarian; and search and rescue missions. Q

NEWS AIRPORT SECURITY GUARDS

PATROL THE STREETS

themselves with little to do as This meant in Wellington, to do isolation checks, guard
the Covid-19 crisis took hold staff were patrolling suburbs quarantine and isolation hotels,
Airport security guards and most plane travel was and part of the central city, in and educate people breaching
cancelled.
lockdown rules.
Auckland they were going out
are hitting New Zealand streets But a deal had been worked in patrol cars with police and, in All staff had been instructed
thanks to a deal hammered out out with police where the Avsec some parts of the South Island, to stay out of dangerous
with police. guards acted as the "eyes and police had provided cars for situations.
Aviation Security Service ears" for police. Avsec officers to do patrols. Their wages were being
(Avsec) Wellington station Each policing district was While they could not make paid by Avsec, a Crown entity
manager Warwick Burr said up using the new resource a little arrests, they could notify police funded though passenger
to 500 staff nationwide found differently, Burr said. of trouble. They were also able levies. Q
World Airnews | May Extra 2020
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