Aerospace Leaders Propose Turnkey Military Flight Training Program in USA

USA– Aerospace leaders Boeing and Leonardo have jointly announced their collaboration to pursue the U.S. Army’s Flight School Next contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) service contract.

• The proposal combines Boeing’s extensive experience in delivering rotary-wing training—especially for the AH‑64 Apache—with Leonardo’s AW119T, a proven single-engine training helicopter
• Boeing will provide simulation, instructor development, program management and systems integration to deliver a turnkey solution
• Leonardo’s AW119T has surpassed 100,000 flight hours and is currently sustained at a U.S. Navy training facility near Fort Rucker, Alabama, enabling rapid deployment and logistical advantages
• The joint offering will include aircraft, instructors, curriculum, simulators, cloud-based training analytics, and automated logistics—supporting efficient, high-volume training operations
• The AW119T platform allows for full touchdown autorotations, in-flight emergency training, and is certified for instrument flight rules (IFR), offering enhanced training capabilities for entry-level aviators

Statements

• “We are bringing together two industry leaders to offer the Army a turnkey, innovative approach to rotary-wing training … that will deliver measurable value throughout the life of the program.” — John Chicoli, Senior Director, U.S. Army, Marine Corps & Special Ops/Missions, Boeing Global Services
• “With more than 100,000 flight hours accumulated and a sustainment network in place in Florida, Leonardo and Boeing are uniquely positioned to deliver immediate capability and long-term value to the Army through Flight School Next.” — Clyde Woltman, CEO, Leonardo Helicopters U.S.

Source: Boeing