CAE USA to assist Army helicopter pilot training

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 12 (UPI) -- CAE USA is to provide support services for U.S. Army helicopter flight training instructors under a contract with a potential value of $450 million.

The support services -- classroom instruction, simulation and live flight training -- will be for the Amy's Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Ala., which runs the Initial Entry Rotary-Wing training program, or IERW program.

"We are honored the U.S. Army selected CAE once again as its training partner to support the instruction required for its new helicopter pilots," said Ray Duquette, president and general manager of CAE USA. "This contract for rotary-wing training instruction follows a major contract awarded by the U.S. Army to CAE for fixed-wing flight training that will see us open a new training center in Dothan, Ala., in March. "

The cost-plus-fee contract has an initial $50 million award for a base one-year period. There are a eight one-year options, which if all exercised would bring the contract value to more than $450 million.

The Army's IERW program also supports initial helicopter training for the U.S. Air Force.