Wednesday, 12 December 2012

DOHA/LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA: Boeing delivered the Qatar Emiri Air Force's fourth C-17 Globemaster III yesterday in Long Beach, California.

The delivery follows Qatar's agreement with the US government to acquire two additional C-17s, which brings the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) fleet of the world's most advanced airlifters to a total of four as the C-17 continues to attract orders worldwide. Qatar received its third airlifter earlier this year.

"The C-17's reliability, along with its unique strategic and tactical capabilities, has expanded our reach and ability to support missions worldwide on a moment's notice," said Brig Gen Ahmed Al Malki, head of Qatar's airlift committee. "Doubling our fleet strengthens our ability to support humanitarian, disaster-relief and peacekeeping missions," he added. Qatar's C-17s earlier this year supported the Nato-led operation in Libya and provided relief for drought victims in Kenya. In early 2010, QEAF C-17s delivered humanitarian aid to Haiti and Chile following devastating earthquakes.

"Boeing salutes the Qatar Emiri Air Force and its brave C-17 crews who continue to respond to crises around the world," said Bob Ciesla, Boeing vice president, Airlift and C-17 programme manager. 

Qatar, the first Middle East nation to order the C-17, signed an agreement with Boeing on July 21, 2008, for two advanced airlifters and associated equipment and services, with options for two additional aircraft. Boeing delivered Qatar's first two C-17s in 2009. As a member of the worldwide C-17 "virtual fleet," 

Qatar's C-17s are supported through the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Programme, a performance-based logistics programme. The GISP arrangement ensures mission readiness by providing all C-17 customers - with varied fleet sizes - access to an extensive support network for worldwide parts availability and economies of scale when purchasing materials.

© The Peninsula 2012