Approx $120 Million Over Five Years

CAE announced on 15 May that CAE USA has won a contract to provide the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) with Contract Instruction Services (CIS) that will support the delivery of ground-based training to the United States Navy (USN). Public domain information indicates the potential contract value over five years (base contract plus four one-year options) could amount to $120 million.

CAE USA will provide classroom and simulator instructors at five USN training bases:

• NAS Whiting Field, FL – training base for primary phase of training using T-6B TEXAN aircraft;
• NAS Corpus Christi, TX – training base for primary phase of training also using T-6B TEXANs;
• NAS Meridian, MS – training base for intermediate and advanced phase of jet training using T-45C GOSHAWK aircraft;
• NAS Kingsville, TX – training base for intermediate and advanced phase of jet training using T-45C GOSHAWKs;
• NAS Pensacola, FL – training base for naval flight officer (NFO) training.

The CNATRA CIS programme provides classroom and simulator instructor support services for the primary phase of naval aviation training, which marks the start of training for all future Navy pilots. The programme also supports intermediate and advanced strike training, which is the training pipeline for future fighter and attack, or ‘Tailhook’ aviators; and NFO training, which provides the basic training for operating the advanced systems onboard naval aircraft. CAE USA already supports the training pipeline for advanced multi-engine training as part of the contractor-owned and operated T-44C Command Aircraft Crew Training program at NAS Corpus Christi. The naval aviator training pipeline for rotary-wing is supported under a separate training support programme.

“Over the past several years, we have demonstrated our capabilities to the Navy on the T-44C programme as a world-class provider of comprehensive training solutions and services. CAE USA looks forward to expanding our support of the primary and advanced flight training that will produce future naval aviators for the United States Navy,” commented CAE USA’s President and General Manager, Ray Duquette. A former naval aviator with time as an instructor at NAS Kingsville, Duquette continued “The CNATRA CIS training programme is another example of the US military outsourcing to industry some of the training support required for aircrew training. As a company focused on training, we are in a good position to partner with our military customers to help train and prepare their next-generation aviators.”

Tim Mahon