GRAHAM WARWICK /WASHINGTON DC
Boeing and CAE aim to provide training for helicopters in move similar to UK initiative
CAE has teamed with Boeing to bid for the US Army's Flight School XXI programme to provide contractor-owned and operated flight simulation training at Ft Rucker,Alabama. The programme will modernise primary flight training on Bell TH-67 Creeks and aircraft qualification training on the Bell OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, BoeingAH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk.
FlightSchool XXI will increase the amount of simulation used in both phases of training, says CAE, to increase the proficiency of pilots provided to operational units. The winning contractor team will provide and operate high-fidelity simulators for the TH-67 as well as devices capable of being reconfigured to represent the AH-6A,AH-64D, CH-47D, OH-58D, UH-60 and, later, the Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche. The US Army will pay for the training service and supply the instructors.
The approach is similar to two UK Ministry of Defence private finance initiative programmes: CAE's Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility and the Boeing/Westland AH1 Apache training centre.
A request for proposals for FlightSchool XXI is expected later this year, leading to a contract award early next year, with training to begin in 2005. A team comprising CSC, FlightSafety International and L-3 Communications' Link division is also competing.
Source: Flight International
