Boeing will help the US Air Force (USAF) train its KC-46 PEGASUS maintenance personnel for the next seven years under a new $78 million contract, which includes contract options. Under the agreement, Boeing will install maintenance training systems at two USAF bases.
“We’re thrilled the USAF chose Boeing, and we’re ready to get underway,” Kirk Reher, director, Boeing Strategic Training Systems, said. “We’re able to combine our long history supporting Air Force programs, our experience with world-class training systems and our ties to the PEGASUS production programme to deliver a strong team of mission-ready KC-46 maintainers. Boeing is unique in its ability to deliver an advanced system such as this that’s both effective and affordable.”
The first of the two training systems, at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, KN, will be operational in the second quarter of 2018. The second will be established by 2021 at a location to be determined.
Boeing’s system combines an interactive, multi-media classroom environment, virtual touch-screen trainers and simulator-like maintenance trainers, all of which are networked. The system’s realism quickly creates substantial aircraft familiarity. Activities in one part of the system are replicated in the others, allowing for coordinated team training as well as in-depth individual instruction.