CAE announced that CAE Defense & Security has been awarded a contract from General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) to support Flight School Training Support Services (FSTSS) at Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker), Alabama.
The contract, valued at US$455 million, supports the recent US$1.7 billion award to GDIT by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) for simulation capabilities and training support services to prepare initial entry-level and graduate-level rotary wing flight training at Fort Novosel.
Under the terms of the 12-year contract, CAE will build and deliver new full-flight simulators for the CH-47F and UH-60M platforms to meet the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence’s rotary‑wing simulation services requirements. In addition to owning and operating the new training devices, CAE will also implement CH-47F and UH‑60M software configurations for reconfigurable collective training devices.
Located at the U.S Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE), the FSTSS program represents the world’s largest helicopter simulation training program, replacing the former Flight School XXI (FSXXI) program, which supported simulation and training for nearly two decades. The FSXXI program trains approximately 3,900 Army aviators annually, bringing Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) and graduate-level pilots, crews and units to a higher level of proficiency.
“Proven U.S. Army training success at our Dothan Training Center for fixed-wing aviators and the expertise delivered through Flight School XXI and Advanced Helicopter Flight Training Services at Fort Novosel allows CAE to expand our trusted training solutions with the FSTSS program,” says Daniel Gelston, Group President, CAE Defense & Security. “It is our honour to provide training and simulation to all Army pilots, both fixed- and rotary-wing, to enhance mission readiness.”