Boeing and Leonardo will pursue the US Army’s Flight School Next contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) service contract.
“We are bringing together two industry leaders to offer the Army a turnkey, innovative approach to rotary-wing training with an integrated, long-term training solution that increases aviator readiness, operational and sustainment efficiencies and will deliver measurable value throughout the life of the program,” senior director, U.S. Army/Marines & Special Operations/Missions, Boeing Global Services, John Chicoli, said.
The partnership will combine Boeing’s operational experience with Army rotary-wing training, and program delivery with Leonardo’s AW119T training helicopter to offer a training solution for the next generation of aviators.
“The AW119T is a proven platform that already supports U.S. military training every day. With more than 100,000 flight hours accumulated and a sustainment network in place in Florida, Leonardo and Boeing are uniquely positioned to deliver immediate capability and long-term value to the Army through Flight School Next,” CEO, Leonardo Helicopters US, Clyde Woltman, stated.
Boeing’s Army training experience includes training services and mission systems support for the AH-64 Apache worldwide, including live, virtual and constructive simulation, cockpit-procedure trainers and instructor development programs to generate and sustain Apache aircrew readiness.
The AW119T is a single-engine trainer and the program has surpassed 100,000 flight hours, including more than 16,000 hours flown under instrument flight rules and more than 40,000 touchdown autorotations, according to Leonardo.
Leonardo sustains 130 AW119T aircraft operated by the US Navy near Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Boeing and Leonardo plan to provide a multi-faceted service offering to increase flight training hours, skill proficiency and deliver a flexible, scalable training model over the life of the contract.
According to Boeing and Leonardo, there is an established support network that would help the contract, including a fully operational AW119T sustainment facility and production capacity to meet program demand.