HANDBOOK

Aircraft Support
Rotorcraft Support (RCS)
Chinook
Boeing recently celebrated 35 years of supporting the Royal Air
Force’s Chinook fleet.
PROGRAMMES
sustain the training requirements of the Chinook force and
maintain flexibility to meet changing operational needs.
The RCS business provides support for the UK’s Chinook fleet
of almost 60 helicopters through the Through Life Customer
Support (TLCS) contract, the Digital Automatic Flight Control
System (DAFCS) upgrade programme and the Chinook Engine
Support Arrangement (CESA). TLCS is a performance-based
capability contract for the Chinook and a flagship programme
for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).
An initial five year contract was awarded in 2006 as part of
a 34 year partnering agreement. It provides heavy depot
maintenance, modifications and upgrades including urgent
operational requirements with associated engineering technical
support, spares, supply-chain management, battle-damage
repairs, in-theatre maintenance and repairs and modifications.
The DAFCS programme will upgrade original analogue
cockpits with a new digital avionics suite, greatly improving
handling qualities and aircraft stability. It will also increase the
safety of the helicopters, particularly when flying in challenging
conditions. Across the 46 aircraft that will be subject to
upgrade, almost 600 miles of wire will be added to the aircraft,
covering a distance from Portsmouth to Milan.
The CESA contract provides support to the UK Chinook
engines through a single availability, output-based contract
to provide specified levels of engine availability, spares and
technical support. It ensures engine support is in place to
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