Hervey Bay Seabird Aviation Goes World-Wide
HERVEY BAY SEABIRD SEEKS WORLD-WIDE MARKET FOR SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT
A Hervey Bay aircraft manufacturer plans to use a State Government grant to enable its specialist surveillance aircraft, the Seeker, to reach wider world markets.
Minister for State Development John Mickel who is in Melbourne with a Queensland delegation at the Avalon Air Show said Seabird Aviation Australia (SAA) had been awarded a $50,000 Queensland Industry Development Scheme grant to conduct ice and noise testing to enable an extension of the existing American FAA Type Certification.
“The company’s trademark Seeker SB7L-360A is in use around the world and was recently selected as the first aircraft of the new Iraqi Air Force,” the Minister said.
“The company identified a niche market of aerial observation that was not being addressed by existing fixed-wing aircraft manufacturers and invested more than $10 million in design, development and certification of the aircraft that provides cost effective surveillance including timely reporting of potential terrorist threats.”
The Seeker’s typical operating environment is at low-altitude, flying close to obstacles, in turbulence, for protracted flight durations.
Features include high crew visibility, safety and comfort, crisp manoeuvrability with stability at low speeds, forgiving stall behaviour and low-fatigue handling.
“This grant is expected to result in new markets being opened - particularly in the United States - and many new aircraft being built at Seabird Aviation Australia’s international research and development base and Australian production facility at Hervey Bay,” Mr Mickel said.
The facility’s 21 staff is expected to grow to more than 30 CAD draftsmen, aircraft welders, sheet metal workers, fibreglass mould and parts fabricators, electrical and avionics technicians.
Seabird Aviation’s Managing Director Peter Adams said that Seabird Aviation Australia’s Joint Venture Company Seabird Aviation America (SAAM) now has a demonstration Seeker - shipped from Hervey Bay - flying in the US.
“This Seeker is based at SAAM’s New Mexico headquarters and will feature in air shows and trade fairs across the country,” he said.
“The US would be a great market for us to crack and really build our international credibility and with such strong support from the State Government we feel very confident this will be a very successful move for us.”
India and South Africa Regulatory Authorities have also accepted the Seeker for operation in their countries. One of India’s larger industrial companies has just been appointed distributor for the Seeker in that region.
A Seeker will be demonstrated at the Avalon Air Show.
Previously Seabird Aviation Australia received Queensland Industry Development Scheme grants of $19,125 to improve quality assurance procedures and $24,945 towards an investment brief.
In 2005 the company won a Queensland Government Wide Bay Burnett Region Emerging Exporter of the Year Award as well as a Highly Commended in the Manufacturing category of the awards. In 2006 it was winner of the Small Business award.
You can visit Seabird Aviation’s website at: www.seabirdaviation.com.au
August 18th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
very impressed with awards - well deserved
August 19th, 2007 at 5:19 am
Yes Maree, Seabird Aviation is a very impressive company that continues to do well despite getting very little recognition from the State government.
They’ve won awards, they’re selling their product into some tough markets and yet you hardly hear the government mention them. If they were rebuilding planes in Cairns or assembling helicopters in Brisbane there would be government press releases floating out of the sky like confetti.
Instead they’re tucked away here in Hervey Bay so they’re out of sight and out of mind when it comes to attracting the attention of the noise-makers apparently.
August 21st, 2007 at 6:39 am
And just to set the record straight, it seems that my perception of the support Seabird Aviation is getting from the government is incorrect.
Both State and Federal governments are supporting Seabird Aviation and the Queensland Department of State Development has been particularly helpful over many years.