EADS: Team Partner for Swiss Air Force PC-21 Simulator

Released on Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The signing of the procurement contract on 6 April between the Swiss procurement authority armasuisse and the contractual partner Pilatus Aircraft Ltd., Stans, on the supply of a PC-21 simulator for the Swiss Air Force is the continuation of a German-Austrian-Swiss success story. A team was formed by Pilatus, AMST of Ranshofen, Austria, and the Military Air Systems Business Unit of EADS Defence & Security (DS) of Manching, Bavaria, to provide ground-based training systems for the high-performance turboprop trainer Pilatus PC-21. armasuisse is now the third customer to have entered into a contract with the three companies. As the manufacturer of the training aircraft, Pilatus is the leading company vis-à-vis the customer for the PC-21 training systems; its role within the simulator team is to supply structural and aircraft electronics components and the aerodynamic and system models of the real aircraft. Military Air Systems from EADS DS is contributing its extensive experience gained from the development, production and operation of the Eurofighter training systems, and is primarily responsible for systems integration of the PC-21 simulator and for the cockpit equipment. Besides supplying simulation models of the aircraft and control loading systems, AMST is responsible for the instructor's operating station and for logistics services.

"We are proud to be an important partner of armasuisse and to be able to contribute our expertise so that the Swiss Air Force can instruct their trainee pilots efficiently and in accordance with the latest technological standards," stressed Bernhard Gerwert, CEO of Military Air Systems. "What's more, the successful cooperation with Pilatus is a clear indication of the many and varied opportunities for cooperation between EADS and Swiss companies in the high-tech field," Gerwert added.

The PC-21 simulator currently commissioned by armasuisse is scheduled to be delivered to the Swiss Air Force for pilot training in Emmen at the beginning of the 2011 training year.