Albania contracts for helicopter training

• Tweet

BASINGSTOKE, England, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- Albania's Ministry of Defense has contracted Britain's FB Heliservices to provide helicopter flying training to its military.

Under the award, FB Heliservices -- a joint venture of Bristow Helicopters and Cobham Aviation Services -- will provide courses for 12 Albanian air force pilots in areas such as multi-engine type conversion, glass cockpit familiarization and instrument flying.

Four helicopter crews will also be trained in search-and-rescue operations.

Rescue training to 12 Albanian air force pilots and SAR training only to four helicopter crew members.

The pilots and crews, who will eventually operate Cougar helicopters, will be trained on FB Heliservices' Agusta A109 and Bell 412 HAR2 aircraft.

"I am delighted that FB Heliservices has been awarded this contract and in particular that this is the first contract of its kind awarded to a U.K. company," said FB Heliservices Managing Director Peter Richardson.

"FB Heliservices has a very strong track record of delivering helicopter pilot training services to military customers around the world and we look forward to working with the Albanian Ministry of Defense to provide the training to their pilots in order for them to successfully move on to their new Cougar helicopters."

The contract is for two years.