The Israeli Government is to seek offers from industry to lease primary trainers and simulators as the first part of a wider initiative to use private finance to fund the upgrade of air force pilot training programmes.
The trainer selection and a related leasing company deal is scheduled for early 2002. A shortlist of basic trainers has been drawn up including the Chilean-built Enaer Pillan T-35, the Aermacchi 260E/F and Pacific Aerospace CT-4 from New Zealand.
The winner will replace the Piper Cub PA-18-150, which Israel uses in its flying school for pilot selection, as well as part of the mission of the Fouga Zukit (Magister), its current basic trainer.
According to a source in the Israeli Ministry of Defence, the air force plans to lease 25 trainers and use them for most of the year. The leasing company is allowed to find third party work for the remainder of the time. The contract also extends to maintenance of the aircraft. Simulators will also be leased from companies who will undertake their operation and maintenance.
Foreign companies are expected to team with Israeli contractors to bid for the trainer and simulator orders in a move towards private financing of defence programmes which is becoming commonplace in the West.
The air force plans to use similar private funding schemes when it finally decides to replace the Zukit. A replacement for the trainer has been considered for years, but budget restrictions have repeatedly forced a delay on selection.
Source: Flight International
