COMPANIEScompeting to build and operate a simulator centre for UKRoyal Air Force British Aerospace Hawk trainers submitted bids on 15 April. The programme is modelled on the RAF's MediumSupport Helicopter (MSH) training-centre contest, which was won in March by Canada's CAE Electronics.
The MSH and Hawk training schools are to be established under the UK Ministry of Defence's Private Finance Initiative (PFI), which calls for industry to build and operate the centres and charge the RAF for the training hours provided. The MSH-centre contract is valued at C$600 million ($428 million) over a period of 20 years.
Under the MSH programme, CAE will build the training centre and six helicopter simulators: three for the Boeing Chinook, two for the EH Industries (EHI) EH101 Merlin and one for the Aerospatiale Puma (with an option for a second).
MSH bidders CAE, Reflectone UK and Thomson Training &Simulation are expected to compete for the smaller Hawk programme. Simulator centres for the RAF's Panavia Tornado GR4s, and possibly the Eurofighter EF2000, are to be established under the PFI.
CAE says that the MSH training-centre contract is still being negotiated. The firm, meanwhile, has joined EHI's bid for the C$600-700 million programme to supply new search-and-rescue helicopters to the Canadian Forces.
CAE would build a simulator and provide training for the 15 Cormorant derivatives of the EH101 being offered to replace Canada's fleet of 13 ageing Boeing Labrador helicopters. The Canadian company is already providing the training system for the UK Royal Navy's Merlin helicopters
Bids must be submitted by 5 May. Other competitors include Boeing, Eurocopter and Sikorsky. Poland's PZL also plans to enter the competition.
Source: Flight International
