CAE USA to train Army fixed-wing pilots

TAMPA, Fla., June 5 (UPI) -- The U.S. subsidiary of Canada's CAE is to provide U.S. Army pilots with initial and recurrent training under a contract worth more than $29 million.

The training by CAE USA for fixed-wing pilots will be conducted at a new company facility to be built at Dothan Regional Airport, near the U.S. Army's Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Ala.

"We are honored and proud that the U.S. Army has selected CAE as its training systems integration partner of choice for fixed-wing training," said Gene Colabatistto, Group President, Defense & Security, CAE. "We will be bringing together live, virtual and constructive training by providing the U.S. Army with a modern and flexible training program that will help ensure safe, high-quality training for Army fixed-wing aviators."

The firm-fixed-price award would be for eight years if all options were exercised and would then be worth a total of $200 million.

CAE USA said the training program is for Army helicopter pilots transitioning to fixed-wing pilots. The Army and CAE will also be implementing a new initial-entry fixed-wing training program so that entry-level Army students can begin their career track to fixed-wing aircraft much sooner. The Army Fixed-Wing training program will also serve as the formal training unit for Army C-12/RC-12 King Air recurrent training, as well as providing annual training to U.S. Air Force C-12 King Air pilots.

Construction of the new CAE USA facility will begin immediately, the company said, and simulation training devices for it are under manufacture.

"The Army Fixed-Wing training program we are developing will be a truly world-class military training program that balances ground-based training with live flying," said CAE USA President and General Manager Ray Duquette. "We will be leveraging our latest training capabilities, such as upset recovery training and CAE Flightscape brief/debrief systems, to deliver scenario-based training specific to the Army's fixed-wing requirements.

"This will also enable us to grow our offering of providing a comprehensive, military-specific ab-initio training program that other U.S. government agencies as well as international militaries will be able to use."