Doss Aviation Wins Bid To Supply USAF With Trainers

Aero-News has learned the US Air Force Air Education Training Command has selected Doss Aviation of Colorado Springs as provider of the Initial Flight Screening (IFS) program for USAF Pilots. Doss was selected from three finalist bidders, all of whom had bid with a customized version of Diamond's DA20-C1.

The program is a 40-day, 25-hr flight-screening course for up to 1700 cadets annually. It includes cadet housing, dining, recreation, ground school, flight operations and maintenance and will operate out of a single facility in Pueblo, CO with nearly 200 full time employees. The 10 year value of the program exceeds US$ 178 Million.

"We are particularly pleased to provide the aircraft for this program, because it underscores why DA20-C1s have been used to train US Air Force Academy cadets since 2002. The aircraft have proven themselves as capable flight training aircraft operating in a challenging high density altitude environment," said Diamond president Peter Maurer.

"We chose to bid with the DA20-C1 because it best met the USAF technical specification. It combines excellent high density altitude performance with a proven record at the US Air Force Academy and low operating, insurance and acquisition costs. There simply is no proven cost competitive aircraft on the market and without the DA20-C1s, our bid would simply not have been as competitive," said Frank Hunter, President of Doss Aviation.

"Being located in Colorado Springs, we have had the opportunity to monitor the performance of the USAFA fleet and we have been impressed with the aircraft performance, safety, operating cost and Diamond's service support," Hunter added.

The program is expected to commence operation in Q4 2006, eventually ramping up to a fleet of 45 aircraft.

FMI: www.diamondaircraft.com, www.dossaviation.com, www.usafa.af.mil