US Army eyes new helicopter trainer amid aviation overhaul

A UH-72 Lakota helicopter hovers at Shell Army Heliport, Fort Novosel, Alabama, during training. (US Army Aviation Center of Excellence)

The US Army is looking at ways to strengthen its initial helicopter pilot training through its Flight School Next programme. The programme would use single-engine helicopters to bolster pilots' basic flying skills. At the same time, the service is seeking to bring next-generation aviation platforms into service, which could change the requirements for Flight School Next.

The service issued a request for information (RFI) to industry in October 2024 seeking input to improve its flight school, with a focus on cost and safety, Joel Magsig, senior business development manager, Global Military Programs for Airbus US Space & Defense, told Janes on 16 May. The RFI sought industry input on “creative methods and means to reduce costs and to provide better outcomes for students”, he added.

Under Flight School Next, the army is looking at foundational helicopter pilot skills in the initial phase of training. The service is considering using a single-engine helicopter for this phase to replace the current twin-engine UH-72 Lakota, built by Airbus US Space & Defense. The army is not acquiring a new helicopter for the programme, but rather a contractor-owned, contractor-operated solution, a spokesperson for the US Army Aviation Center of Excellence, told Janes on 29 May. The service will set the requirements that the solution will need to meet, the spokesperson added.