UK Military Flying Training System
| Aircrew trainer overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | November 30, 2006 |
| Preceding Aircrew trainer | |
| Type | PFI contract |
| Jurisdiction | United Kingdom |
| Annual budget | approx £500 million |
| Minister responsible | |
| Aircrew trainer executive |
|
| Website | DFT |
The UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) takes UK armed forces aircrew from initial training through, elementary, basic and advanced flying training phases preparing them for their arrival at their designated operational aircraft units. It is operated by Ascent Flight Training, a consortium of Lockheed Martin and Babcock International under a 25-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract for the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD). Apart from the overall contract, the main elements of the system include fixed-wing elementary, basic, multi-engine and fast-jet pilot training, rear crew training and rotary-wing (helicopter) training.
Contractually, the Directorate of Flight Training of No. 22 Group RAF (DFT) is the user, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) is the customer and Ascent Flight Training is the training service provider. Organisationally, the RAF's DFT is in charge of:
Contractorisation of flying training was discussed in 2000. Bombardier Aerospace (Bombardier) had been given a PFI contract in July 1998 to replace Bulldog aircraft with the Grob ‘Tutor’ and also maintain them at the University Air Squadrons. 132 Bulldog primary trainers were ordered for delivery in 1973 and 1974 for use in Air Experience Flights but mostly for the University Air Squadrons. 90 Grob Tutor basic trainer aircraft were supplied on a 10-year supply and maintenance contract for university air squadrons and air cadets, from 1999.
The MoD expected to consider similar PFI contracts when Tucano and Hawk aircraft were replaced. 130 Tucano two seat, tandem, fully aerobatic turboprops, were on order in February 1989. The Hawk T1 advanced jet trainer entered RAF service in 1977, with 116 aircraft ordered
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