Singapore Training Agreement Under Review

16 Super Puma helicopters stasioned in Oakey Army Aviation Center Australia (photo : CQ Plane Spotting)

13.08.2012 DEFENSE STUDIES

A LONGSTANDING agreement to host the training of Singapore air force helicopter pilots in southern Queensland will be reviewed by a federal parliamentary committee.

Under the agreement first signed in 1997, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) 126 Squadron operates up to 16 Cougar helicopters and has 150 RSAF personnel at the Oakey Army Aviation Centre.

The agreement expires at the end of December and is proposed it be renewed for another 15 years.

"Oakey has hosted Singaporean helicopter squadrons since 1997 and this should help the committee assess the costs and benefits of the agreement," the treaties committee chairman, Labor MP Kelvin Thomson, said in a statement.

The house treaties committee will hold an inquiry into the arrangement in Canberra on Monday.

(NewsAu)