RSAF Helicopter Detachment in Oakey Opened
Friday, 20th August 1999
Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Dr Tony Tan, and Australia's Defence Minister, Mr John Moore, jointly officiated at the opening ceremony of the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) Helicopter Detachment in Australia this afternoon, 20 Aug 99. The detachment is based at the Australian Army Aviation Centre (AAAC) in Oakey, Queensland. The projected started in 1997.
Photo Credit: Flickr.
This event marks the successful implementation of the Oakey Agreement, signed between the two countries in October 1996. Under the Agreement, the RSAF can deploy up to 12 Super Pumas along with 250 personnel and family members for 15 years at Oakey. The detachment arrived in Oakey last September. Today, the detachment has 12 Super Pumas and about 160 RSAF personnel and their family members. The facilities at Oakey were constructed at a cost of about A$20 million. Maintenance of the RSAF's helicopters is provided by Bristow Helicopter Australia (BHA).