Army seeks flight simulator training for deHavilland DHC-7 fixed-wing reconnaissance pilots

Are there commercial vendors capable of using a full motion flight simulator to help train U.S. Army pilots to fly decades-old deHavilland DHC-7 reconnaissance aircraft?

The U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) has issued a sources sought document to invite companies with those capabilities to make themselves known by March 7.

“The simulator should be configurable as the military version of the deHavilland DHC-7 aircraft, the EO-5C Aerial Reconnaissance-Low (ARL),” says the INSCOM notice, which was published on Feb. 22.

The contractor shall offer “initial qualification and refresher training,” says the notice, providing the simulator, real property facilities, supporting equipment and materials.

“The contractor shall maintain/modify existing simulator as required to integrate new and emerging flight system-specific training, i.e., global positioning system training, digital display cockpit training, etc.,” the notice continues.

The initial qualification course shall include academic and simulator training for Army fixed-wing multi-engine aircraft pilots. The refresher course shall include academic and simulator training for U.S. Army EO-5C ARL pilots.

“An industry day is not contemplated at this time,” says the notice. “The Government may elect to conduct one-on-one discussions with industry based on its analysis of the RFI responses, the quality of submissions and the specifications in the information provided.”

Further information is available from Burk Voigt, a contract specialist, at 703-428-4575 or j.burk.voigt.civ@mail.mil.