Steps Into Prime Contractor Role – Contract Valued at $200+ Million

On 26 September, CAE USA announced it has been awarded a contract by the US Air Force (USAF) to provide comprehensive C-130H aircrew training services. The eight-year contract, awarded as a three-month transition effective 1 October with a one-year base period and seven additional option periods, is valued at a total of more than U$200 million.

The formal training unit for USAF, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard C-130H training is based at Little Rock Air Force Base (AFB), AR: training under the C-130H Aircrew Training System (ATS) programme is also conducted at Dobbins Air Reserve Base (ARB), GA; McChord AFB, WA; Minneapolis Air National Guard Base (ANGB), MN; and Cannon AFB, NM. Each year, more than 11,000 crewmembers from the US services, and those of more than 30 other countries, are trained under the C-130H ATS programme.

“Winning the C-130 Aircrew Training System programme to support the United States Air Force is a significant achievement and further testament to CAE’s experience as the world’s leading provider of training systems and services for the enduring C-130 HERCULES aircraft,” commented CAE USA’s President and General Manager, Ray Duquette. “We have played a role on this programme as a subcontractor for almost 20 years, and we are honoured the Air Force has now placed its trust and confidence in CAE to lead the programme that supports the preparation and readiness of C-130 aircrews for their critical missions.”

CAE USA will be the C-130H ATS prime contractor, responsible for providing classroom and simulator instruction, training device modifications and upgrades, systems engineering support, programme management and contractor logistics support. CAE USA will also manage the C-130H Training Systems Support Center (TSSC), located at Little Rock AFB. Currently there are 11 C-130H full-mission simulators and more than 50 additional aircrew training devices used as part of the C-130H ATS programme.