Jordan Times
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Iraq air force to get first
new aircraft
AMMAN (Reuters) — Iraq's nascent air force will take delivery of its first two
new aircraft on Thursday, the start of a new surveillance force for protecting
its borders and oil facilities.
Officials said the two Seabird Seeker (SB7L-360) aircraft, made by Seabird
Aviation-Jordan, a joint Jordanian-Australian venture, would be handed over to
Iraqi officials in Amman and then flown to Basra.
“Tomorrow we will hand over the first two aircraft to the Iraqi air force,” said
Omar Massarweh, commercial and operations manager at Seabird Aviation-Jordan.
The SB7L-360 plane resembles a helicopter with a bulbous glass nose, but with
wings and a rear-facing propeller. The aircraft is a low-cost alternative to a
helicopter, ideal for reconnaissance and surveillance, the firm said.
“It will be used to keep an eye on oil pipelines, power lines, anti-terrorism
activities, and coastal and border patrols,” Massarweh told Reuters.
Officials say the Kingdom seeks to become a training hub for the Iraqi air
force, which currently numbers about 150 personnel and should reach 500 by
year-end.
Eight Iraqi pilots and seven technicians, part of the Seabird Seeker contract,
are also due to graduate on Thursday.
Seabird Aviation-Jordan officials said they were hopeful the delivery of the two
planes would be followed soon by a contract to supply 16 other such planes to
Iraq by early 2005.
The joint venture with Australia's Seabird Aviation was set up with backing by
His Majesty King Abdullah in July 2003.
The Kingdom has also offered to sell 16 US-made “Huey” helicopters and two C-130
Hercules transport planes to Iraq. US and Iraqi officials were examining the
proposals, said an air force official who declined to be named.