CAE awarded contract to provide ab initio flight training to German Air Force

CAE today announced that CAE GmbH has been awarded a contract from the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) to provide ab initio training services to the German Air Force.

The initial contract has a term of seven years and includes an option for an additional five years.

CAE is establishing a new training facility at Bremen airport in Germany to support the training of entry-level German Air Force aviators. CAE GmbH will have overall responsibility for providing academic, simulator and live-flying training to more than 40 student aviators in the first year.  A fleet of Diamond DA-40 and CAE-owned DA-42 aircraft will be used to fulfill single and multi-engine live-flying training requirements at both the CAE Bremen Training Centre as well as a training site in Montpellier, France operated by industry partner Airways Aviation. CAE GmbH will also leverage the established approved training organization (ATO) curriculum as well as instructors from CAE Civil. 

“This contract is a great example of CAE leveraging its world-class pilot training expertise across both defence and civil aviation to provide an unparalleled solution for initial flight training,” said Dan Gelston, Group President, Defence & Security, CAE.  “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 local government and Bremen airport.  At the new facility, CAE will employ instructors, aircraft dispatchers, maintenance technicians and support staff to deliver ab initio flight training to the German Air Force.

“CAE is always listening to the needs of its military customers and it was important to have initial flight training accessible in Germany and the region,” said Marc-Olivier Sabourin, Vice President and General Manager, Defence & Security International, CAE.  “Working closely with the authorities in Bremen, we are creating the new CAE Bremen Training Centre to support initial flight training and reinforce our commitment to Germany.”

"Bremen has been a primary location of aviation and spaceflight industries right from their early beginnings,” said 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.”

“Airways Aviation is pleased and honoured to partner with CAE on this important German Airforce contract,” says Romy Hawatt, Founder and Chairman - Airways Aviation Group. “As always, our focus and attention will continue to be around delivering" only the best flight training available from our Montpellier facilities”

Notes to Editors:

CAE is one of the world’s leading providers of ab initio and initial flight training.  CAE’s Civil Aviation Training business unit offers ab initio training programs to address the broad range of licensing needs found across commercial aviation.  CAE’s Defence & Security business unit currently delivers initial flight training to various military forces globally, including:

• CAE Pueblo Training Center, formerly Doss Aviation, is home to initial flight training (IFT) for all United States Air Force aviation candidates. Known as the “Gateway to Air Force Aviation,” all future USAF pilots start their aviation careers as part of the IFT program managed by CAE.
• CAE is the prime contractor responsible for the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program that produces qualified military pilots for the Royal Canadian Air Force and allies.
• CAE Dothan Training Center supports United States Army fixed-wing flight training, including the U.S. Army initial-entry fixed wing training program.