CTC to provide aircraft training expertise

For Immediate Release
18 April 2011

CTC to provide future strategic tanker aircraft training expertise

CTC Aviation Group plc (CTC) – world leader in the airline pilot training arena – will provide support to the UK’s Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) programme during the forthcoming FSTA fleet’s introduction to the Royal Air Force at RAF Brize Norton.

The FSTA programme, delivered by AirTanker, will provide the Royal Air Force with a safe, efficient and reliable air-to-air refuelling and air transport service using a fleet of 14 specifically converted aircraft based on the A330-200 commercial airliner.

Under contract to Thales UK – a shareholder in and sub-contractor to AirTanker - CTC instructors will deliver A330-200 type rating training and operational support programmes. The initial A330-200 conversion courses begin in mid-2011 and will be delivered from the purpose-built training centre at RAF Brize Norton, which will home a CAA/EASA compliant full-flight simulator and part-task trainer. Later in 2012 CTC will assist Thales UK to establish its own A330 Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO) Approval to be based at RAF Brize Norton. This process will require CTC to work with multiple stakeholders including Thales UK, AirTanker, the MoD and the CAA.

Marion Broughton, VP for Avionics, Training and Simulation, Thales UK, said: “The FSTA programme takes collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and industry to a new level. We are enhancing our training solution to AirTanker by using CTC’s expertise in the civil aviation domain and integrating this with Thales’ experience in operating and delivering training to the RAF.”

CTC’s Operations Director, Captain Martin Hunt said “We have been working with Thales UK for some time and we are very pleased to have been selected for part of this significant programme. CTC is well known for its innovative approach in the civil airline community and we look forward to developing equivalent solutions with Thales UK over the coming years.”

The entire training programme will be delivered at RAF Brize Norton in the UK and the first aircraft is due to be delivered towards the end of 2011.

CTC provides a full portfolio of regulator approved airline training and selection support services. For further information, please visit ctcaviation.com

ENDS

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