Cobham has opened-up hundreds of gravel air strips around Australia to commercial passenger jet aircraft for the first time, unlocking huge benefits to mining and energy companies’ Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) operations.

In an Australian-first, Cobham has commenced jet FIFO services to unsealed airstrips following modification of several BAe 146 jets with “gravel kits” that protect the undercarriage and airframe during take-off and landing. Cobham’s first jet FIFO services are being provided to a mining consortium in Kambalda, 500km east of Perth. Cobham is also in active talks with other mining companies to expand the services.

Cobham has so far modified two 71-seat BAe146 aircraft with “gravel kits” to enable landing on unsealed airstrips and is in the process of converting more aircraft in its FIFO fleet.The introduction of gravel kit-equipped jets followed an 18 month period of trial flights and final approvals by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority in January of this year.