CAE has announced it has been awarded contracts to provide the Beechcraft T-6C ground-based training system and services for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).
CAE was awarded the contracts by Beechcraft to develop and support the T-6C ground-based training system (GBTS). GBTS is an integrated training system that includes two T-6C operational flight trainers (OFTs), computer-based classroom training systems, and courseware customised for RNZAF pilot training.
To this end, CAE has established CAE New Zealand Pty Ltd to provide long-term training support and maintenance services at RNZAF Base Ohakea to support the 11 T-6Cs in service, the first of which made its first flight in June.
The OFTs will include a high-fidelity replica of the T-6C cockpit with a fully-enclosed 270 degree by 70 degree field-of-view display system, the CAE-developed common database (CDB) which is an open database architecture that enhances the ability to correlate and rapidly update databases to support training and mission rehearsal requirements.
The T-6C GBTS will be delivered to Ohakea in 2015.