Boeing to train NATO C-17 aircrews

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Boeing has been given an $8 million contract to train NATO C-17 aircrews as part of the Strategic Airlift Capability program.

Training will take place at Boeing's International Training Centre in England. Prior to the contract, C-17 aircrews were sent to the United States for training.

The SAC program is made up of ten NATO member countries and two NATO Partnership for Peace countries. C-17 training program manager Larry Sisco says training at the ITC makes the program more affordable for the alliance.

"Boeing met the customer need to have access to affordable, high-quality training for aircrews from smaller countries with limited resources," Sisco said in a statement. "Having regional training is a big cost and time savings for the SAC Program."

Boeing was given the training contract following a U.S. Air Force inspection of their C-17 training simulators, located at their U.K. training center, which houses a weapons systems trainer, loadmaster station and an integrated maintenance procedure trainer.

The C-17 Globemaster III is a Boeing-made mass-transport aircraft designed for the rapid delivery of troops and cargo to main operating or forward bases in a deployment area. The aircraft can also be used for tactical airlift and airdrop missions.