Article Posted on : - Jan 09, 2017

Pilatus Aircraft PC-21

NEW DELHI (BNS): Pilatus Aircraft will supply 17 PC-21s for the French Air Force and two aircraft for the Royal Jordanian Air Force.
 
The French Air Force (Armée de l'air française) has opted for the 21st century training system - the 17 PC-21s - will be used to train future military pilots who will transfer to the Alpha Jet prior to their conversion on to the Dassault Rafale, a multi-purpose 5th generation fighter aircraft, a Pilatus statement said.
 
The contract signed on 30th December 2016 by the French Air Force is with Babcock Mission Critical Services France (BMCSF), with Pilatus as a sub-contractor, in which role the PC-21 and other ground-based training material will contribute to completion of the overall contract.
 
The Royal Jordanian Air Force, which had initially placed an order for PC-9 M in August 2015, re-evaluated their requirement in early 2016. The procurement decision was revised following a modification of the training concept, introducing the PC-21 all-through training model.

The contract amendment was initially for eight aircraft but with an option for additional units, if required. The option was now executed for two more PC-21s’, with a total of ten PC-21s’ now providing the backbone of the nation's future pilot training regime. The first deliveries will be undertaken mid-2017, it added.