Expected Program Value, Including Options, Of More Than $250
Million Over Ten Years To CAE.
The USAF has awarded a comprehensive KC-135 aircrew training
services to CAE USA, the company said in a news release Monday.
Under terms of the contract, which was awarded as a nine-month base
contract for approximately $20 million with nine one-year options,
CAE USA will provide aircrew training services at 13 USAF bases in
the United States and internationally where more than 3,500 KC-135
pilots, co-pilots, and boom operators train annually.
Over ten years, the contract, including the base contract and
nine one-year options, is expected to produce revenues of more than
$250 million.
"Winning the U.S. Air Force KC-135 Aircrew Training System
program as a prime contractor is an important milestone for CAE
USA," said John Lenyo President and General Manager, CAE USA. "We
are honored and proud the USAF recognized CAE's focus, experience
and expertise in providing world-class training services for tanker
aircraft, and we look forward to helping KC-135 aircrews stay
well-prepared and mission ready."
KC-135 File Photo
The KC-135 Aircrew Training System (ATS) program delivers
initial qualification, requalification, continuation and upgrade
training for KC-135 aircrews, including pilots, co-pilots, and boom
operators. As part of the KC-135 ATS program, CAE USA will now be
the prime contractor responsible for providing program management,
academic and simulator instruction, maintenance and logistics
services, training device upgrades, relocation services, and a
Training Systems Support Center. Currently, there are 19 KC-135
operational flight trainers (OFTs), two KC-135 boom operator
part-task trainers, one KC-135 cargo load trainer, and a range of
lower-level training devices that are used as part of the KC-135
ATS program.
CAE USA will provide on-site aircrew training services at the
following USAF bases: Altus Air Force Base (AFB), Oklahoma, which
is the formal training unit for the KC-135; McConnell AFB, Kansas;
Scott AFB, Illinois; Fairchild AFB, Washington; Grand Forks AFB,
North Dakota; Grissom Air Reserve Base (ARB), Indiana; MacDill AFB,
Florida; March ARB, California; General Mitchell International
Airport, Wisconsin; Pease Air National Guard Base (ANGB), New
Hampshire; Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina; RAF Mildenhall,
United Kingdom; and Kadena Air Base, Japan. Under the KC-135 ATS
contract, CAE USA will relocate the KC-135 training currently
conducted at Grand Forks AFB to Hickam AFB, Hawaii.
The KC-135 Stratotanker is the USAF's primary aerial refuelling
aircraft and first entered service in 1956. Originally designed and
manufactured by the Boeing Company, the USAF currently operates a
fleet of more than 400 KC-135 aircraft. Currently the USAF is
conducting a competition for a new tanker aircraft that will
eventually replace older models in the fleet of KC-135
aircraft.