NASA Opens Boeing 777 Pilot Training Competition Following Pan Am Flight Academy Sole-Source Notice

California, USA – NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center has issued an open-market solicitation for initial Boeing 777 ground school and simulator training for two NASA pilots, following an earlier notice identifying Miami-based simulator training provider Pan Am Flight Academy as its intended sole-source contractor. The procurement will support initial pilot qualification through external training facilities.

• NASA's latest solicitation, published on 7 October 2026, required quotations by 9 October 2026, with all training to be completed by 30 November 2026. The procurement will be evaluated on a lowest-price, technically acceptable basis.
• The original notice, issued on 28 September 2026 under reference 80NSSC26943494Q, identified Pan Am Flight Academy LLC as the sole provider NASA had determined capable of meeting the requirement. Other organisations were invited to submit capability statements by 1 October, but commercial quotations were not accepted.
• The subsequent solicitation, 80NSSC27943494Q, opened the requirement to competitive quotations, with vendors required to demonstrate compliance with the technical and instructional specifications.
• The selected contractor will be responsible for providing qualified instructors, classroom facilities, training materials and flight simulator access. Training may be conducted at the provider's facilities, with each pilot receiving qualification documentation and records of completed academic and simulator instruction.
• NASA's statement of work requires initial qualification training covering normal, abnormal and emergency aircraft operations, flight planning, navigation, aircraft systems and associated proficiency checks. Simulator instruction must use an FAA Part 142-certified Level C or D Full Flight Simulator with a visual system, while instructors must hold the applicable FAA qualifications and maintain required currency.
• Pan Am Flight Academy currently advertises two CAE-manufactured Boeing 777-200ER Level D Full Flight Simulators at its Miami training facility, supporting initial type ratings, upgrades, recurrent training and requalification.

About Pan Am Flight Academy
Pan Am Flight Academy is an FAA Part 142 aviation training organisation headquartered in Miami, Florida, delivering aircraft type ratings, recurrent training, ATP-CTP and other airline pilot qualification programs. The academy operates more than 20 full flight simulators across multiple aircraft platforms and has been owned by Acorn Capital Management since 2025.

Source: NASA Shared Services Center – SAM.gov