L3 Commercial Aviation has been selected by the Royal Air Force to support the training of future RAF multi-engine pilots. The three-year contract represents the first time that L3 has provided such training for the RAF.
Following a competitive tender process, L3 was selected to provide a bespoke solution for approximately 100 trainee pilots in total. Trainees will undertake a course similar to a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) with Instrument Rating (IR), as well as the Multi-Crew Cooperation (MCC) course to supplement the RAF’s own training program. After the course with L3, the pilots will return to the RAF to complete their operational flying training.
“We are delighted and proud to begin working with the RAF in its centenary year to help develop their next generation of the finest-quality pilots,” said Robin Glover-Faure, President of Commercial Training Solutions, which is part of L3 Commercial Aviation. “This agreement showcases our ability to offer tailored, cost-effective solutions to meet existing and new customers’ bespoke training requirements. We look forward to working with the RAF for many years and welcoming their pilots to our U.K. training facilities.”
Group Captain David Catlow, from the RAF Directorate of Flying Training, added, “We are constantly looking to evolve and optimise our training programmes so that we continue to provide the highest standards of training for all our Officers. This agreement with L3 will help us to deliver more world-class pilots to our operational front line in the timescales we require.”
Upon completion of Officer Training and Elementary Flying Training with the RAF, the trainee pilots will carry out the tailored course on multi-engine aircraft before progressing to the MCC course utilising L3’s flight simulators. The training will take place at L3’s UK Airline Academy training locations, lasting approximately 17 weeks in total.
The first class of students will begin training with L3 in August 2018.