Simulation services contracts sign of sector growth for CAE 

CAE recently confirmed contracts valued at over C$115 million to provide a range of simulation products and services to the Polish Air Force, the German-French Tiger Helicopter Technical School, the German Army Aviation School, and the New Zealand Defence Forces.

The first contract, awarded by Airbus Defence and Space, involves the design and manufacturing of a C295 full-flight simulator to support Polish Air Force training at Balice Krakow Air Base. The PAF has a fleet of 16 C295 aircraft. The C295 full-flight simulator will be the fourth developed for Airbus under a strategic cooperation agreement which would include a training solution for Canada if the government opts for the C295 for the fixed wing search and rescue program.

The second involves analysis of the training needs of the German-French Tiger Helicopter Technical School located in Fassberg, Germany. The technical school, run by the Organisation conjointe de cooperation en matiere d’armement, is responsible for the theoretical and practical training of Tiger helicopter maintenance technicians.

The third is the continuation of a contract to provide maintenance and in-service support through 2021 at the Hans E. Drebing simulator centre of the German Army Aviation School. The state-of-the-art training facility includes two Bell UH-1D, eight Airbus Helicopter EC135, and two Sikorsky CH-53 helicopter simulators that are used to deliver initial and advanced pilot training to the German Armed Forces as well as several other defence and security forces.

The final deal involves contracts to upgrade and then provide through-life support and maintenance to the New Zealand Defence Force SH-2G(I) Super Seaspite helicopter full mission flight simulator and part-task trainer that New Zealand is acquiring as part of a comprehensive acquisition of 10 SH-2G(I) helicopters from Kaman Corporation.

Gene Colabatistto, CAE’s group president for defence and security, said the orders show that use of simulation based training continues to be a key focus of defence and security forces.