CAE secures USD 180 million contract to support U.S. Army helicopter training programme

The AHFTS programme provides advanced flight training support for the U.S. Army’s modern helicopter fleet, including the CH-47F, UH-60M, and AH-64E airframes. Each year, the programme trains around 900 U.S. Army and foreign national aviators transitioning to these rotary-wing aircraft.

The newly awarded contract expands the number of Instructor Pilots (IPs) in the programme, including a doubling of UH-60 IPs, with provisions for further growth to meet increasing training demands. CAE personnel, including Instructor Pilots, Maintenance Evaluators, and Non-Rated crewmembers, will continue to play a key role in supporting this training.

“CAE is committed to training excellence, ensuring that Army aviators are prepared for the arduous mission ahead,” said Merrill Stoddard, Division President, CAE Defense & Security, USA. “From high-fidelity simulation and advanced technologies to critical aircraft flight training, CAE is a trusted partner in the modern aviation journey, developing the skills and confidence pivotal to force readiness.”

Since 2021, CAE has provided classroom, simulator, and aircraft flight training services for AHFTS, helping transition Initial Entry Rotary-Wing aviators to operational aircraft. This includes advanced mission training such as Night Systems Gunnery in the AH-64E and Air Assault operations in the UH-60M and CH-47F.

In addition to AHFTS support at Fort Novosel, CAE operates the Dothan Training Center in Alabama, where over 600 pilots from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force are trained annually under the Fixed-Wing Flight Training Service programme. The company also contributes to Flight School Training Support Services (FSTSS), providing full-flight simulators and reconfigurable training software for various aircraft platforms.