AW Opens Training Center at Newquay Cornwall Airport

AgustaWestland on March 31 officially opened its “operational flying training center” (OFTC) at Newquay Cornwall Airport in South West England. The OFTC can provide services from basic helicopter pilot training to “advanced operational helicopter flying training.” Because the training center was devised for military and public services pilots, it is also able to train rear crew for rescue winch and medical missions. The OFTC will initially employ around 30 people, including 13 aircrew instructors and 12 aircraft technicians. It will use its own AW109 Power and AW139 twins, as well as customer aircraft.