A NEW centre has opened at a Suffolk airfield that will service all of the Apache helicopters owned by the British Army.From now on, every aircraft that completes 300 flying hours, including those returning from operations in Afghanistan, will be sent for a check-up at Wattisham Airfield's depth support hub.

A NEW centre has opened at a Suffolk airfield that will service all of the Apache helicopters owned by the British Army.

From now on, every aircraft that completes 300 flying hours, including those returning from operations in Afghanistan, will be sent for a check-up at Wattisham Airfield's depth support hub.

Manned in partnership by both military technicians and civilian industry, it will be a centre of excellence for the maintenance of all Apaches and will create 60 new jobs between now and April.

Lieutenant Colonel Phil Davies, the depth support hub manager at Wattisham, said: “Previously Apache have had their major servicing conducted at airfields across the country, but over the past 12 months there have been moves to concentrate much of the Apache servicing and support at Wattisham.

“One of the most significant moves has been a radical change to how we complete this service, making it more effective and efficient.

“In the past, each aircraft was fully serviced by a crew of army technicians. Now each aircraft will go along what is effectively a production line, known as a Pulse Line, with six stages, where technicians and civilian staff will specialise in a particular stage of the process.”