Thales Training &Simulation (TTS) is to be preferred bidder for the UK Ministry of Defence's Fully Integrated Aircrew Synthetic Training Service (FIASTS) programme.
FIASTSwill hand control to TTS of all Royal Air Force simulators not already managed by contractors. Twenty full-flight simulators and 64 other training devices at 10 sites will be included in the 18-year deal. The contract is expected to be signed next month and be worth around £100 million ($157 million). TTSwill also be able to offer simulator time to third parties to increase income.
The contract is the latest in a line of RAF simulator service deals funded using the UK's private finance initiative (PFI). TTS will be contracted to provide simulator hours and will be responsible for maintenance and repair, and post-design development, as well as providing instructors and maintaining the facilities.
An MoD source says that TTS, which has similar contracts to provide the RAF's Panavia Tornado GR4 and British Army Westland Lynx synthetic training, was the only bidder. Others dropped out because of the number of devices involved in the programme built by UK-based TTS. It says there are a number of AMS/Marconi/Ferranti-supplied devices included in the programme. Other companies invited to bid were AMS, Babcock HCS, CAE and Serco Defence.
Simulators include the BAC VC10, BAe Jetstream and Nimrod MR2, Lockheed TriStar, Tornado F3, Sepecat Jaguar, Shorts Tucano and Westland Sea King HAR3/3A. Other simulators could come under the contract as new types enter service.
Source: Flight International
