HBC contract to support Iraqi Air Force is renewed

The deal is part of the ongoing Operation Peace Dragon maintenance and support programme on the aircraft which are used for inntelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) purposes. Under terms of the contract, Hawker Beechcraft will send three additional technicians, along with two instructors, to the New Al-Muthana Air Base in Baghdad, to provide technical and logistical instruction to Iraqi Air Force maintenance personnel.
 
“This training component is a logical step in the transition for Iraqi troops to assume responsibility for this important and ongoing mission,” said Christi Tannahill, HBC vice president, global customer support. “Our goal is to effectively train the Iraqi Air Force personnel to develop the capability and confidence to maintain their aircraft.”
 
HBC has been operating the support since July last year  supporting full flying schedules of six sorties per day. Since that time, Peace Dragon aircraft have flown nearly 2,570 hours in more than 1,200 sorties.
 
An initial 12 employees, including GCS representatives from the company’s service centers across the U.S, have provided maintenance and logistical support for the fleet of King Air turboprops. The company was awarded the contract to supply five King Air 350ER ISR and one light transport version of the King Air 350 in March 2007.