AirEurope

Babcock to Provide PC-7 Training Aircraft Fleet for French Military

Babcock has accepted a contract to supply Pilatus PC-7 MKX training aircraft to the French Air and Space Force as well as the French Navy.

The 795-million-euro ($827.9-million) deal covers 22 of the low-wing planes, associated through-life support, infrastructure components, and pilot equipment.

The PC-7 MKX fleet will be stationed at the Salon-de-Provence Air Base in southern France, where military students will receive standard flight lessons before undertaking fighter and transport pilot roles.

Babcock will also ship 12 training simulators to aid trainee preparations alongside the MKXs.

The contract is expected to employ over 100 engineering, technical, administrative, and project management roles across the Salon-de-Provence and Le Cannet-des-Maures regions.

Once active, the new PC-7 MKX planes will generate approximately 11,000 flight and 6,500 training hours for about 120 students annually.

“The French Air and Space Force and French Navy play leading roles in national and international security,” Babcock France CEO Pierre Basquin stated.

“We are delighted to support our customers with their air-based training requirements, further enabling them to focus on delivering critical military aviation needs.”

Babcock is currently engaged with a similar contract to assist in French Air and Space Force pilot training programs at the Cognac-Châteaubernard Air Base using 26 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft.

In December, Babcock acquired 11 L-39 Albatros aircraft to further improve its own aircrew training in France.

The Pilatus PC-7 MKX

The PC-7 MKX system measures 34 feet (10 meters) and is equipped with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C engine with 700 horsepower.

The aircraft incorporates multiple flight displays, traffic advisory systems, autopilot capability, a cockpit camera, debriefing system, and various flight modes for full pilot training coverage.

The plane has a maximum speed of 300 knots (556 kilometers/345 miles), a range of 1,800 nautical miles (3,334 kilometers/2,071 miles), and a service ceiling of 25,000 feet (7,260 meters).

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