Babcock International is pushing ahead with the training of fighter pilots at an academy on the former military base in Dijon, France. For this reason, the company has acquired eleven L-39 Albatros aircraft. The aircraft purchased from Apache Aviation will increase the capacity to support the training and development of air force pilots.
The academy will offer programs for the training of future fighter pilots, the certification of L-39 pilot trainers, the retraining of already qualified fighter pilots and the training of pilots and advanced air traffic controllers (JTAC) for close air support missions, among other things. The courses are designed and run by former fighter pilots from the French Aerospace Forces. They are specifically tailored to the needs of international air forces and are compatible with the standard operating procedures of NATO standard operating procedures.
According to a company statement, this new operational capability will support fighter squadrons, military ships and units of the French army and European forces with training missions in the form of aerial targets.
“The training of military pilots is a critical component of our customers’ defense capabilities. The expansion of our military training activities is in line with our ambition to meet the needs of our customers in both the short and long term,” said Pierre Basquin, Babcock’s Chief Executive Aviation and CEO France.
The L-39 aircraft that have now been purchased previously flew as part of the “Breitling Jet Team”, the only civilian aerobatic team in the world that flies jet aircraft. The “Breitling Jet Team” has performed numerous demonstrations in Europe, North America and Asia.
