Training change

The ADF is about to embark on a wholesale change to its aviation training systems with the maturing of its Air 9000 Phase 7 Helicopter Aircrew Training Systems (HATS) and Air 5428 Pilot Training System (PTS) projects.

Air 9000 Phase 7 will not only replace Army’s Bell 206B Kiowa and Navy’s Squirrel training helicopters, but will also combine Army and Navy basic and advanced rotary winged training into a common syllabus with a common helicopter type at a common user facility at Nowra. Over at Air 5428, the goal is to replace the BAE Systems-run Basic Flying Training Systems (BFTS) and its CT-4B trainers at Tamworth, and the RAAF’s Pilatus PC-9/A fleet operated by 2FTS at Pearce and the Central Flying School (CFS) at East Sale, with a two or possibly a single tiered system for all three services.