The new agreement is intended to lower training costs and improve safety for Army helicopter pilots.
The U.S. Army announced that it has contracted the civilian company M1 Support Services to train military helicopter pilots. The arrangement is part of the Army’s Flight School Next initiative, which shifts away from an Army-owned-and-operated helicopter training model to one that relies on civilian instructors and contractor-owned equipment.
Training will remain at Fort Rucker in Alabama, with M1 projected to instruct 800-1,500 pilots each year, after a three- to four-year transition. The Army stated that the contract could potentially run for up to 26 years. The service branch intends this change in pilot training to reduce training costs while improving safety. It is also expected to help pilots learn to rely less on technology during initial training.
The Defense Department released data last year indicating Army aviation incidents increased almost 55 percent in a five-year period. The most recent crash killed two Army Apache helicopter pilots who were on a training flight in Texas.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Dan Driscoll to seek God’s direction as he heads the U.S. Army.
- For Army officials as they transition helicopter pilot training to the defense contractor.
- For the safety of those serving in all the U.S. military branches, particularly Army helicopter pilots.
Sources: Army Times, Stars and Stripes
