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US Army selects Robinson R66 for $10bn Flight School Next rotary-wing training overhaul
M1 Support Services won the US Army's $10 billion Flight School Next contract, replacing UH-72 Lakotas with Robinson R66 helicopters in a contractor-operated training model.
The gist
The US Army chose M1 and Robinson R66 helicopters for a $10bn contract revamping its rotary-wing flight training program.
The US Army has awarded a landmark $10 billion contract to M1 Support Services to revamp its rotary-wing flight training program over the next 26 years. This major initiative, known as Flight School Next, replaces the current training system where government-owned UH-72 Lakotas are employed across multiple vendors. Unlike the existing setup, Flight School Next adopts a contractor-owned and operated model for both helicopters and instructional services, aiming to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
M1's winning bid centered around the Robinson R66, a light single-engine helicopter, which aligns with the Army's expressed preference for a simpler training platform. The R66's suitability as a basic trainer meets the Army's objective of improving initial pilot skills by minimizing automated flight assistance features prevalent on the current UH-72A Lakotas. This selection comes after four finalists competed, with other bids featuring the Bell 505 and Boeing partnered with Leonardo’s TH-73.
Under Flight School Next, the training syllabus will produce between 800 and 1,500 trained military rotary-wing pilots annually. This marks a slight decrease compared to the 1,250 graduates of the current system but is expected to deliver pilots with stronger foundational skills. The consolidation of multiple contracts into a fixed-price single contract aims to streamline training delivery and management.
The adoption of the contractor-operated model represents a significant shift for the Army, which previously relied on multiple vendors to manage various components of flight instruction using government aircraft. The change intends to reduce complexity and cut long-term costs, while improving pilot proficiency through integrated and innovation-rich training methodologies branded by M1 as Flight School First.
The Army's dissatisfaction with the UH-72A Lakota as a training platform has been longstanding. The twin-engine helicopter, derived from the Airbus H145, incorporates significant automation that reportedly undermined pilots' development of essential stick and rudder skills. Some army officials have linked the uptick in serious rotary-wing accidents since 2020 to this inappropriate trainer selection.
Airbus defends the UH-72's design, noting the automation systems can be disabled or adjusted via existing controls. However, the Army has indicated reluctance to change flight procedures to mitigate these automation effects. The Flight School Next program’s shift to a lighter, single-engine Robinson R66 signifies the Army’s commitment to grounding pilots more firmly in manual flying fundamentals from the outset.
During the transition phase, expected to last three to four years, existing UH-72 Lakotas will be gradually phased out from the Army’s basic flight training curriculum. Meanwhile, the Army National Guard will continue to utilize UH-72s in their traditional light utility roles, including natural disaster response and domestic operations.
The Robinson R66 helicopters earmarked for the new training program are produced in Torrance, California, where Robinson maintains a highly integrated supply chain. This vertical integration spans everything from sheet metal fabrication to final assembly, underpinning the reliability and availability of the aircraft types contracted by M1 for Flight School Next.
M1 Support Services CEO George Krivo emphasized the company's commitment to delivering an integrated training program that enhances pilot skills on schedule and within budget. The Flight School Next contract not only meets military aviation training objectives but also secures employment and industrial activity in the US rotorcraft manufacturing and service sectors.
Frequently asked questions
- What helicopter will the US Army use for rotary-wing flight training under Flight School Next?
- The US Army will use the Robinson R66 light single-engine helicopter as the primary aircraft for the Flight School Next training program.
- How much is the Flight School Next contract worth and what is its duration?
- The contract is valued at $10 billion over a potential 26-year period, covering training services and aircraft operations.
- Why is the Army replacing the UH-72 Lakota in its pilot training program?
- The Army found the UH-72 too sophisticated with automation that hindered the development of fundamental piloting skills, linking it to increased accidents.
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