Bell and M1 have confirmed their progression to the fourth and final phase of the U.S. Army’s Flight School Next (FSN) competition.
The Army is seeking a new primary single-engine rotary-wing training aircraft to replace the Airbus Helicopters UH-72A Lakota, and has called for proposals for a turnkey contractor-owned and -operated solution to train between 900 and 1,500 student pilots each year at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Bell is offering its 505 light single for the program, and has partnered with DigiFlight, Delaware Resource Group (DRG), V2X, Alpha 1 Aerospace, Semper Fly and TRU Simulation.
“Bell is proud to be selected for the fourth phase of the Flight School Next competition alongside our teammates,” said John Novalis II, strategic director, Flight School Next, Bell.
“From the very beginning, our team set out to deliver the most cost-effective and low-risk solution for the Army’s Initial Entry Rotary Wing [IERW] program at Fort Rucker, leveraging Bell’s unique position as an original equipment manufacturer and world leader in flight training. Making it to this stage proves that Bell’s solution is strong and we look forward to demonstrating our ability to execute.”
During a media briefing last year, Bell had said it would propose an instrument flight rules (IFR)-capable version of the 505, and that the type would provide a high operational readiness rate, and offer more sustainability and durability than the existing training fleet.
M1, which is offering the Robinson R66 as its training platform, said its “Flight School First” proposal will feature an AI-enabled virtual training environment, advanced simulation, and proficiency-based learning.
“We are honored to advance to Phase IV,” said George Krivo, chairman and CEO of M1. “In this next phase, Team M1 will demonstrate our comprehensive, innovation-rich solution to produce more proficient Army Aviators on time and on budget.”
M1’s bid partners include General Dynamics Information Technology, Robinson Helicopter Company, Quantum Helicopters, and the University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation.
“We are excited to demonstrate several game-changing technologies to accelerate learning and build student pilot proficiency,” said Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Tom Drew, M1’s executive program director for FSN. “M1 brings an immersive training experience and significant increase in flight hours to fundamentally transform Army flight training.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Lockheed Martin confirmed it has not advanced to Phase IV of the competition. The company had offered the Robinson R66 NxG as its training platform.
The Army expects to be able to award the contract later this year, with training beginning a year later to allow time for the program to be prepared. The first year of training will see 25 percent of IERW students using FSN, and this will increase to 100 percent by the fourth year.
