Warton, United Kingdom: BAE Systems has submitted its proposal to support a flying training service to the UK’s armed forces. If successful the BAE Systems led team will be responsible for ensuring a range of aircraft and systems are available to train aircrew in basic, elementary and multi engine fixed wing flying, across the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.

Leading a team comprising Gama Group Limited, Babcock Aerospace Limited and Pilatus Aircraft Limited, BAE Systems is well placed to deliver a low risk, innovative aircraft availability service.

The aircraft offered under the BAE Systems proposal is an upgraded Grob 115 with a digital cockpit, and the Pilatus PC21 with a Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer optimised cockpit to ease the transition of pilots onto the Hawk AJT. For multi engine training the Cessna Citation Mustang has been proposed. This aircraft is widely recognised as the emerging multi-engine training aircraft of choice by many operators around the world.

Martin Rushton, Senior Vice President for Training Solutions & Services at BAE Systems said: “Our proposed solution builds upon the success of our existing Hawk availability contracts and, with the strong team we have in place, we can deliver fully supported elementary, basic and multi engine aircrew training for the UK‘s armed forces for 25 years.”

The proposal was provided to Ascent Flight Training who manage the UK MOD’s Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme and is in response to the Fixed Wing Outline Solutions Request for Proposal (RFP).  BAE Systems is now supporting any clarifications of the proposal and, following a period of evaluation by Ascent, a further Detailed Solutions RFP is anticipated in March 2011. A selection decision is expected by end 2011 or early 2012.

Source: BAE Press Release