Aviation & Aerospace

Our focus

We have been fortunate to advise government and significant businesses in the Aviation and aerospace sectors since the mid 1990s.

In the aviation sector, our consultants have advised Airlines such as Air New Zealand and Nauru Airlines, specialist general aviation service providers such as CareFlight Limited and Northern Rescue Helicopter Limited (NZ), businesses with private aircraft fleets such as Heathgate Resources Limited and private aircraft owners and operators. We provide our clients with a range of services including regulatory advice, aircraft purchases and sales, aircraft financing and leasing, individual and fleet maintenance programs, MRO contract requirements, service requirements and aircraft modifications. We have extensive experience with such arrangements including with off shore parties.

In the aerospace sector our consultants have extensively advised MRO organisations such as TAE Gas Turbines Pty Ltd and their related entities (both in Australia and off shore) since the mid 2000s. Our advice has included civilian and military MRO requirements, authorised repair stations arrangements, product developments and innovations as well of the development of major purpose built MRO facilities and engine test cells. We have advised the engineering arm of CareFlight Limited on numerous maintenance and modification requirements over the last 10 years. Our consultants advised Air New Zealand Engineering Services on a major contract to modify the Virgin Australia (then Virgin Blue) fleet of 737 aircraft. They have also advised companies such as Safe Air Australia on service agreements and Altitude Aerospace Interiors who are responsible for many of the innovative cabin designs that have been used by Airlines such as Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic. We believe that we have a deep understanding of requirements in these areas and bring a pragmatic and commercial approach to achieving the desired outcomes for our clients.

Highlights of the experience of our legal consultants include:

  • MRO support contracts for the 404/414 engines powering the FA18 Hornet and Super Hornet Aircraft

  • MRO support contracts for the F135 engine powering the F35 Joint Strike Fighter

  • Transition of the F-111 Engines Workshops Business unit from the Commonwealth

  • Development of purpose built MRO facility and Engine Test Cell for all RAAF fast jet aircraft

  • Financing and purchase (worldwide acquisitions) of a fleet of King-Air B200 aircraft for CareFlight Limited

  • Purchase and through life support arrangement for GE90 engines to power Air New Zealand’s fleet of B-777ER aircraft

  • Numerous cross boarder fixed and rotary wing aircraft acquisitions and sales

  • Development of numerous purpose built facilities in support of both aviation and MRO providers

 

Notable clients and projects

 

CareFlight

  • Advised on the tender and implementation for the Northern Territory Aeromedical Retrieval service including the long term lease and development of a greenfield hangar and base at Darwin Airport and acquisition, financing and modification of all required aircraft.

  • Advised on tenders for the NSW and Qld Aeromedical Retrieval Services and the West Australia resources medical retrieval service.

  • Advised on the disposal, acquisition and financing of a range of rotary and fixed wing aircraft both locally and abroad.

 

Air New Zealand

  • Advised Air New Zealand and subsidiary companies on a broad range of aviation procurement, operations, services and manufacturing contracts together with corporate and commercial requirements and general advisory work.

  • Drafted a suite of standard form contracts for Air New Zealand.

  • Negotiated the purchase and through life support arrangements for GE90 engines for B-777 300ER

 

TAE Aerospace

  • Advised on numerous military MRO requirements including in respect of F-35, F-18 and F-111 aircraft and Abrams M1 main battle tanks

  • Development of purpose built MRO facility for military requirements

  • Development of F-135 engine test cell

  • Advised on issues associated with MRO facilities in Kansas, Texas, Arizona and Taiwan.

  • Drafted a suite of standard form contracts for TAE.

 

Other

  • Advising Heathgate Resources on aircraft acquisition, financing, service and maintenance requirements.

  • Drafting suites of standard form contracts for Safe Air Limited and Altitude Aerospace Interiors.

  • Advising private aircraft owners on acquisitions of private aircraft and helicopters, aircraft financing, leasing, maintenance, modification, operational and regulatory requirements.