One of the helicopter simulators in action at RAF Benson. Credit: Crown copyright via Gov.uk.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to invest more than £90m to continue pilot training operations at Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility for another eight years.

The MoD’s procurement organisation, Defence, Equipment and Support, has extended a contract with CAE Aircrew Training Services to continue delivering training for Chinook, Puma and Merlin aircrews at the facility.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

UK Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy future helicopter pilots will be trained to fly in emergency situations such as the effects of icing and rotor blade damage, the impact of gun or missile fire and electronic warfare, total electrics failure and fuel management issues.

The centre features six CAE-built dynamic mission simulators, three of which are for Chinook, two for Merlin and one for Puma.

“The importance of effective synthetic training cannot be underestimated and continues to play an increasingly important role in our overall training curriculum.”

It is also equipped with four computer-based ground school training classrooms and a Tactical Control Centre that allows for operational mission training.

UK MoD Defence Equipment and Support Air Support director Adrian Baguley said: “The importance of effective synthetic training cannot be underestimated and continues to play an increasingly important role in our overall training curriculum.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

“The Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility has consistently delivered a high standard of quality training to the operators of our front line helicopter capabilities. This agreement continues to maintain the world-leading ground school and simulator training facility for our helicopter aircrews.”

The latest investment is expected to support 70 jobs at the helicopter simulation facility at RAF Benson in South Oxfordshire.