Northolt update

BAe Systems has been awarded a four-year £42m contract from the UK Ministry of Defence for the provision of the Command Support Air Transport (CSAT) fleet of four BAe 146 jetliners operated by 32 (The Royal) Squadron from RAF Northolt in West London.
 
The BAe Systems Regional Aircraft team joined with Serco to win the contract through a competitive tender process. The BAE Systems-led team will deliver a 20% increase in aircraft availability for a reduced operational cost.
 
The BAe 146 fleet consists of two BAe 146-100s – originally delivered in 1986 to The Queen’s Flight at RAF Benson − along with two BAe 146-200QC (Quick Change) variants with a large freight door in the rear fuselage.

What the announcement does not answer is the question of Northolt’s runway repairs, or the situation regarding any progress with the Flybe proposal for scheduled operations now that Air Marshal Sir Timothy Anderson has become chief operating officer.  The fixed wing part of the airport was supposed to close in April this year for a £40m runway upgrade but this seems to have been delayed with no news published by the Ministry of Defence.  Alternative airports, typified by Biggin Hill and Oxford, were watching the situation.

www.baesystems.com/en/our-company/our-businesses/regional-aircraft

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