UK MoD to invest in RAF training facilities

Source: Pan European Networks
The MoD’s procurement organisation, Defence, Equipment and Support, has extended a contract with CAE Aircrew Training Services to continue delivering training for Chinook, Puma and Merlin aircrews at the facility.

Future UK Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy helicopters pilots will be trained to fly in emergency situations such as icing and rotor blade damage, the impact of gun or missile fire and electronic warfare.

The centre includes six CAE-built dynamic mission simulators, three of which are for Chinook, two for Merlin and one for Puma.

The MoD’s equipment and air support director Adrian Baguley said: “The importance of effective synthetic training cannot be underestimated and continues to play an increasingly important role in our overall training curriculum.

The Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility has consistently delivered a high standard of quality training to the operators of our front-line helicopter capabilities. This agreement continues to maintain the world-leading ground school and simulator training facility for our helicopter aircrews.

The latest investment is expected to support 70 jobs at the helicopter simulation facility at RAF Benson in South Oxfordshire.