UK MoD extends CAE helicopter training

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is investing more than £90 million in helicopter training for Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots, the MoD announced on 24 October.

The MoD has signed a contract amendment with CAE Aircrew Training Services to deliver training for Puma, Chinook and Merlin aircrew at the Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility based at RAF Benson in South Oxfordshire. The deal extends CAE’s current contract for another eight years.

The centre is equipped with six dynamic mission simulators (three Chinook, two Merlin and one Puma), four computer-based ground school training classrooms and a tactical control centre enabling operational mission training.

The simulators provide a realistic representation of the environments crew will fly in, including emergency situations such as the effects of icing and rotor blade damage, the impact of gun or missile fire and electronic warfare, total electrics failure and fuel management issues.

The contract will deliver training for Chinook and Puma aircrew until the Puma planned out-of-service date. Training for the Merlin Mk3 will continue at the facility for two more years as the Royal Navy transitions from the Mk3 to the Mk4 helicopter.