Training systems integrator and service provider CAE has been awarded a contract by Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) to provide ab initio training for the Luftwaffe (German air force). The initial contract is for seven years, with an option to extend the term for a further five years.
Through its Germany-based division, CAE GmbH, the Canadian company will train more than 40 new student aviators in the first year of operation with a mix of academic, simulator, and live-flying instruction. CAE is building a new training facility at Bremen airport to satisfy the requirement, and has also partnered with Airways Aviation to assist with live-flying instruction, which will be undertaken at both Bremen with CAE-owned aircraft and Airways Aviation's facility at Montpellier in France. The international company is a leader in training commercial aircrew, handlers, engineers, and cabin staff.
Single-engined instruction will be accomplished using the Diamond DA-40 trainer, with DA-42s providing a twin-engined aircraft for multi-engine ratings. The Luftwaffe pilot training effort will build on the established approved training organization curriculum, and benefit from the experience of instructors from CAE Civil.
“This contract is a great example of CAE leveraging its world-class pilot training expertise across both defense and civil aviation to provide an unparalleled solution for initial flight training,” said Dan Gelston, Group President, CAE Defence & Security. “We are excited to expand our initial pilot training offering with the German air force and continue CAE’s mission to support the safety and readiness of future aviators.”
The CAE Bremen Training Centre is being established with support from the airport and local government. “Bremen has been a primary location of aviation and spaceflight industries right from their early beginnings,” said city Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte. “Personally, and on behalf of the Senate, we welcome CAE to Bremen and look forward to a long-lasting and successful cooperation.”
CAE has built an impressive portfolio of providing training services to air arms and is the prime contractor for the NATO Flying Training in Canada program that trains aircrew through to advanced level for the Royal Canadian Air Force and NATO allies. CAE opened a training center in 2017 at Dothan, Alabama, primarily to operate the U.S. Army’s initial-entry fixed-wing training program with Grob G120TPs. The Dothan Training Center also provides recurrent aircrew training for the C-12/King Air for the Army and other U.S. services.
In 2021 CAE also acquired the L3Harris military training business that included Link Simulation & Training, and Doss Aviation. Based at Pueblo, Colorado, the latter provided initial flight training on Diamond DA-20s for all prospective U.S. Air Force pilots, a task it continues in its new guise as the CAE Pueblo Training Center.