Nova has been awarded 11th place in the BRW Best Places to Work 2010.

The survey, undertaken by the Great Places to Work Institute®, is a detailed study of workplace culture that finds and recognises organisations in which employees are provided with a great work environment.

Nova has been involved in the development of a cost model to support the ongoing development and understanding of project cost for Land 400. The project required a database system for generating cost estimates for multiple option sets of exemplar equipment from
OEM & stakeholder data, built upon Defence approved software. This model will be used by the Desk Officer to input updated data to generate new cost estimates for multiple option sets as well as providing a system that can allow input of FIC element costing and will link these elements to the inputted options. Nova has also provided the Land 400 project with a Lessons Learnt study on overseas projects for future land vehicles systems as well as a Test and Evaluation Strategy Paper for Land 400, both of which included a number of recommendations which are being considered as the project matures.
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Last week Nova celebrated its 10th Anniversary by holding a cocktail party in Adelaide which was attended by heads of industry and our loyal clients. Nova has come a long way from being an Adelaide based flight test company to the largest Australian supplier of specialist engineering services to
Defence and Industry. On the night it was announced that Nova Defence and its commercial counter part Nova Systems Consulting would be merged into Nova Systems. Nova’s strategic plan is to continue to be a specialist provider to Defence and limit growth but expand into a number of commercial sectors to diversify our client base to provide more opportunities for our staff. More to follow......

Nova has recently been engaged to support the AIR9000 Phase 8 Project Office in its goal of acquiring a new combat helicopter capability for the Royal Australian Navy, a capability designated as the Future Naval Aviation Combat System (FNACS). The Project Office is benefitting from the extensive experience and
knowledge of a team of 6 Nova specialist engaged to perform a Ship / Helicopter Interface Study to inform the Second Pass consideration. Broadly, this study is required to perform an analysis of ship integration aspects (including Physical, Weapon & EO and Tactical Data Link) for the two contender helicopter types (Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawk and NATO Helicopter Industries NH90 NFH) against the two ship classes that will predominately embark the selected helicopter (FFH and AWD). Nova will then determine Government Second Pass quality cost/schedule/risk data for any modifications that may be required to ensure successful integration. This project has recently been granted First Pass approval by Government and is progressing to Second Pass approval, currently scheduled for first quarter 2011.

Nova is now accepting students for its inaugural Evaluation of Synthetic Training Devices Course (EoSTD), held from 16-21 August 2010 at the Boeing Training and Flight Services Centre in Brisbane, QLD. The six day course is tailored to train Civil and Defence aviation industry personnel
involved in all facets of Simulator evaluation, and will provide successful graduates with the fundamental skills and knowledge of regulations, simulation principles and techniques, and evaluation methodologies involved in the assessment of Synthetic Training Devices (STDs). The EoSTD curriculum delivers a balance of classroom theoretical lectures and hands-on practical exercises conducted in Flight Training Devices and Simulators. This ensures that students obtain a thorough knowledge of the technology and standards associated with STDs as well as an understanding of how this knowledge is applied during STD testing. The EoSTD course is CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) recognised as achieving the minimum training requirement for Evaluation Team Leaders acting on its behalf, and qualifies all students who have completed the course to act as Simulator Evaluation team members during Initial Evaluations and Recurrent Fidelity checks.

To enrol in the course, or for more information, go here

Auspace has completed an extensive study of space based imaging satellites for Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation (DIGO). 50 copies of a Commercial Satellite Wallchart were delivered by Auspace to DIGO to complete the successful project. The wallcharts, developed from data compiled during previous bodies of work completed for DIGO, comprise a table of information on commercial remote sensing satellites and their sensors. The information relating to each sensor includes the resolution, operating mode and scene (or image) size available from the sensor. A legend is also included at the side of the wallchart, which details various objects that are visible at different resolutions. This legend allows DIGO analysts to better choose the required imagery resolution.

Commencing in 2010 Nova will be offering nationally accredited recognition for the majority of our courses. We are currently in the process of adding the Certificate IV and Diploma of Public Safety (Test and Evaluation) to our RTO Scope of Registration. Further to this, we will be able to offer Nova courses as Modules that are recognised by the University of New South Wales (ADFA) and contribute toward their Masters of Systems Engineering Degree. Previous participants of Nova courses may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning and we actively encourage people to contact Nova if they are interested in achieving any one of these exciting new Qualifications. Nova will release further details in the New Year.

Aero Innovation Australia (AIA) was recently involved with the certification approval of an Australian manufactured helicopter searchlight supplied to Eurocopter France. Trakka Corp, the Melbourne based manufacturers of an advanced helicopter searchlight had been awarded a significant contract to supply their searchlight directly to Eurocopter France which will ultimately see the Trakka searchlight offered as a Eurocopter Factory option.
Supply into Eurocopter, as opposed to supplying the third party retrofit market, brings with it a requirement to satisfy the stringent and complex Eurocopter supplier quality and technical requirements. Working in conjunction with Aeronautical Engineers Australia the AIA team guided development of the Trakka response to the Eurocopter safety and reliability requirements and assisted with the subsequent negotiations with the Eurocopter quality and safety engineering groups.
The AIA team was able to draw on its significant experience with both the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) requirements and the internal Eurocopter processes to ensure that Trakka meet their supplier requirements in the most cost effective manner.
AIA was excited by this task which demonstrated that it was possible for a small Australian manufacture to compete successfully at the highest levels in the worldwide aerospace market. Trakka’s success at getting their searchlight approved as Eurocopter factory optional equipment paves the way for significant future exports of this innovative product.
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In November the Adelaide office challenged Nova staff and our clients at AWD to grow a moustache, and raise funds and awareness for men’s health as part of Movember. Participation was fantastic, and fund raising was excellent despite varied moustache results. Team Mova held a celebration and awards ceremony at the end of month with certificates awarded for the winners. In total Team Mova and Mova Canberra raised over $8500 for the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation and the Beyond Blue.
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The Auspace JORN SATCOM transition to MILSATCOM scoping study, being completed for the DMO, has completed the second phase of the project. Phase 1 of the project involved an assessment of capability requirements which identified significant changes in the JORN capability and supporting infrastructure including terrestrial upgrades. The inclusion of Vigilare has now dramatically increased the data requirements of the JORN system. The Auspace team consolidated the capability requirements and through Phase 2 have defined the new SATCOM architecture to support the JORN system. The simplified solution has a reduction in links required but a significant increase to the data through put being supported. Phase 3 is a market survey and business case to define options and recommendations for solutions to the mature JORN SATCOM system.

Nova over the past two month has won two separate Fixed Firm Price Contracts to support the Commonwealth Multi-Role Helicopter Project Office (MRHPO) . Nova’s scope of work is vast and covers 24 months of support in Production Acceptance, Airworthiness, Qualification, Verification & Validation , Aircrew Publications, Stores Clearance and Explosive Ordinance engineering, Ground Mission Management System, Instrumented aircraft and Naval certification. Nova’s team is working hand in hand with the MRHPO engineering team in Canberra and Brisbane to introduce this new capability to the Army and Navy. It has been a flurry of activity getting the project set up whilst meeting our initial deliverable obligations - all good at this stage with the CoA providing positive feedback after our first monthly progress report. A big thanks goes out to all working on the MRH program for getting us away to such a good start in a challenging environment.

Nova Defence was commissioned by Australian & International Pilots Association (AIPA) to conduct an independent risk analysis of the safety and security issues associated with the flight deck jumpseat being occupied by off-duty company pilots during commercial flight operations. The Australian Government recently made several legislative amendments to the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 via Select Legislative Instrument 2009 No.24. This policy was introduced with the intent of increasing security and precludes off-duty airline pilots from travelling on flight deck jumpseats. The AIPA believes that the legislative changes are neither necessary nor appropriate, and was seeking to have these new rules disallowed on the grounds of technical safety arguments. With Nova’s assistance this legislation was successfully over turned.

Last week, Nova completed another successful OT&E course, this time for Army personnel participating in the upcoming ARH (Tiger) Operational Evaluation, as part of its transition into service. The course was delivered to 1 Av staff and coordinated by the Directorate of Aviation Capability Implementation - Army (DACI-A). Nova staff took the 'arduous' journey to the Top End for a week whilst demonstrating Nova's flexibility and responsiveness with regards to delivering training that is tailored to our client's needs.

Nova Defence has successfully conducted its first Introduction to Explosive Ordnance and Weapons Certification Course. The 3 day Nova Defence Introduction to Explosive Ordnance and Weapons certification course aims to describe the application of the ADF’s Technical Regulatory Framework, Certification policies, manuals and processes. The course will provide a detailed description of aspects of the EO and Weapons certification process, touching on integration issues, with relevant considerations from a Tri-Service perspective. Additionally, students will be introduced to basic chemistry principles that provide a solid basis for understanding the characteristics and effects of explosives. Course material is reinforced by regular case studies and workshops which ensure that course participants can develop their knowledge throughout the course and apply it productively to their workplace.

Nova's short courses have now been included as part of the Engineers Australia Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program. This means that people who complete our courses credit towards maintaining their Engineers Australia Chartered Status. Nova has a proud history of providing quality engineering short courses to the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Defence Industry. This recognition from Engineers Australia is just another example of the high esteem that our courses are held and a credit to our experienced instructors.

Project LAND 400 will equip the combat, combat support and some combat service support elements of the Army After Next (AAN) with Combat Vehicle Systems (CVS) required to fight and win in a highly complex and lethal battle space. LAND 400 is a pre-First-Pass project and has a year of decision of 2014. LAND 400 will begin to replace the Army’s legacy CVS from around 2017. Nova in partnership with Atkins will develop lessons learnt from the foreign FCVS programs and develop a T&E assessment plan that will assist Land 400 in the development of Test Concept Documents to assist in identifying and reducing risk over the duration of the program.

Nova in partnership with AMOG Consulting has been awarded the contract to support the DGTA System Safety Course. The course has been designed to address the regulators system safety requirements to support airworthiness certification. The System Safety Course is complimentary to our existing range of specialist engineering courses being run for both Defence and Industry.

Twenty-four Boeing F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet aircraft will be acquired to give the ADF a bridging air combat capability. The acquisition of the Super Hornet and expanded weapons capability under Project 5349 Phases 1 and 2 is being expedited due to the Government direction to establish an initial operating capability by the end of 2010. An accelerated schedule is possible due to the ‘off the shelf’ nature of the acquisition. Nova is currently assisting with overall T&E management, airworthiness and certification. Nova has been applying lessons learnt from our experience on other rapid acquisition programs like Chinook and C-17.

Nova Defence has partnered with Marops a New Zealand based company to develop and execute the OT&E program for the recently modified RNZAF 757. This is Nova's first Test and Evaluation activity offshore. Nova will commence kick off activities as early as next week to ensure the RNZAF schedule expectations can be met.

Nova Defence has now become a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) as part of a strategic approach to our training systems. Registered in Adelaide under the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST), Nova Defence now has the capability to deliver to its staff, anywhere in Australia, the following Project Management Units of Competency from the Public Sector Training Package (PSP04):

PSPPM401B Design Simple Projects
PSPPM402B Manage Simple Projects
PSPPM403B Close Simple Projects

Nova now intends to commence the process of registering Units of Competence for its variety of other specialist courses to meet industry's needs. The commitment by Nova Defence to training, both internally and for our clients, is extensive and it is expected that by becoming a RTO, the quality of Nova Defence's existing courses will only increase and generate considerable training opportunities for our clients and within the the company.

Nova has commenced it's strategic move into land based systems this year and is proud to announce the opening of the Melbourne office. The Melbourne office will be managed by Warren Smith ex-LTCOL ARA and previous Commanding Officer of the Experimental Proof Range. Warren brings with him a wealth of land based T&E and operational experience. The Melbourne office has been established predominately to support Land Systems Division, Land Engineering Agency, local Industry and DSTO. With the every increasing complexity of land systems including advanced communications and sensor systems, Nova believe additional emphasis will need to be placed on acceptance and operational testing to ensure fitness for service.

Nova has purchased 100% of the shares in Auspace Limited from their UK parent EADS Astrium Limited on 21 December 2008. The purchase has de-coupled Auspace from the manufacture and distribution of satellite equipment, to allow the new Auspace to be solely focussed on the provision of professional engineering services relating to satellite communications. Auspace will provide independent and impartial advice to Defence, Government and Industry customers. Auspace will have capabilities in satellite system architecture and systems engineering, spectrum management, frequency coordination, simulation and modelling. Auspace also conducts training in space operations and satellite communications

The C-17A Globemaster has been the quickest (one and a half years) acquisition of a current age RAAF aircraft into service from government approval. Nova's work for the DMO Project Office and RAAF has been acknowledged as critical to the success providing Test & Evaluation and Type Certification services, at multiple locations across Australia, to ensure that the tight deadlines were achieved. The C-17 Heavy Air Lift Project has Been awarded a High Commendation at the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) Awards in Canberra as recognition of an excellent effort provided by everyone in the Program. Furthermore, the C-17 Transition Team received an award, issued by the Guild of Air Pilots and signed by the Duke of York (Prince Andrew), for outstanding achievement in the accelerated introduction of the C-17 to RAAF service.

Nova is currently providing specialist Explosive Ordnance design services to the DMO-Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Branch under Project Phoenix. The aim of the Project is to undertake Technical Integrity recovery for the ADF current inventory of Non-Guided Explosive Ordnance items. Nova has been able to develop an experienced, qualified team of technical and engineering specialists to provide the major portion of the Project Phoenix scope. Nova has used the opportunity to participate within the Project to further develop and enhance the professional knowledge of employees, whilst recruiting additional experience to broaden the ability of Nova to support the ADO in specialist Explosive Ordnance and Weapons related engineering services. Nova has also committed to a substantial professional development program to ensure it has the ability to support the current and future requirements of the ADF and DMO within the fields of Explosive Ordnance and Weapons related design services.

Over 200 staff and families made the annual pilgrimage to the Nova conference this year. Despite Nova growing to over 100 staff the tradition of taking staff and family away for the annual conference continues. This year Nova took over the island resort of Lindeman Island to discuss the 5-10 year strategy for the company. The conference provides an opportunity for all staff and families to meet and provide their thoughts on how Nova can become a great company from both a work and family perspective. Nova continues to be the employer of choice through empowering all staff as decision makers within Nova's. The final curtain raiser, the inaugural dinner in traditional safari suit attire included recognition for a number of key projects conducted by Nova in support of our clients.

Nova Defence has recently worked closely with the Army Aviation Systems Program Office to negotiate a contract between the Commonwealth and Boeing Australia for the rapid acquisition of the ScanEagle Tactical UAV. Nova is currently providing ongoing contract management and specialist project management services to ensure the effective sustainment of the ScanEagle UAV fleet that is currently deployed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nova Defence is a leading provider of professional engineering consultancy and operational support services to operators of Unmanned Aerial Systems.

Nova has recently won the task to develop the Capability Development Documentation for all of the ADF's Unmanned Aerial Targets that will be procured by the Commonwealth under Joint Project 66. This important activity will see Nova develop the Operational Concept Document, Functional Performance Specification, Test Concept Document and Request for Tender package that will be needed to generate industry solutions to all of the ADF's Unmanned Aerial Target requirements. These targets will be used to enable live fire exercises to be conducted in a controlled training environment for air, maritime and ground-based weapons systems.

Nova Defence has commenced Production Acceptance Testing to support the AIR87 Project Office. Nova's aim will be to accelerate the Production Acceptance Test and Evaluation (PAT&E) process and program schedule by providing flight test specialist and experienced T&E management support. The support effort will include the planning, conduct and reporting support for all Tiger Production Acceptance Test and Evaluation

Nova has commenced work with the Royal Australian Navy Test Evaluation and Analysis Authority (RANTEAA) to support testing on the Submarine Replacement Combat System (SEA1439) and replacement Heavy Weight Torpedo Project. Nova Defence will also developed a standardised methodology for all RANTEAA operational assessments of Suitability and Sustainability testing including updating the Naval Test and Evaluation manual - ABR 6205, which should be published in October 2007.

During the Defence and Industry Conference 2007, Nova hosted an exclusive breakfast with the Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson and key leaders from Defence Industry. Dr Nelson was very keen to pursue a number of common issues including security clearances and a more cohesive Defence and Industry relation.

Nova Defence conducted the inaugural Test and Evaluation Practitioner's Course on behalf of Aerospace Operational Support Group from 14 - 18 May 07. 16 ADF members from the Australian Army and Air Force attended the 5 day course which covers theoretical and practical application of Defence Acquisition, Airworthiness Regulations, Test Planning, Conduct and Reporting. The course was assessed by both the course members and AOSG staff and received overwhelmingly positive feedback.

The P-3 Accord completed the rapid acquisition of the Tactical Common Data Link system for the RAAF AP-3C this month. A team of Nova Defence test and evaluation specialists undertook all acceptance testing activities on the project in support of the P-3 Accord adding this sought after capability to venerable AP-3C airframe. TCDL testing is the first of many upgrades for the AP-3C where independent T&E will be used to verify Commonwealth requirements.