Helicopter Institute awarded US Navy training contract

The US Department of the Navy has, for the first time, outsourced a portion of its initial helicopter flight training to Helicopter Institute, along with its Team SkyWarrior partners.

Known as Contractor Only Pilot Training – Rotary (COPTR), the Naval Air Training Command is evaluating contractor-based solutions to support its existing helicopter training programs.

Colonel Anthony ‘FES’ Krockel, USMC, Commodore, Training Air Wing Five, said: “The COPTR small group tryout of 48 volunteer students represents the most innovative change in the last 40 years to how the Navy and Coast Guard trains helicopter pilots.

“It is also the first commercial teaming effort for initial helicopter training ever for the Department of the Navy. In the event of a crisis, the Naval Air Training Command may need to partner with industry to quickly develop proficient military aviators. This effort represents a first step in developing this capability.”

The COPTR program provides a path for future Navy and Coast Guard helicopter pilots to enter directly into helicopter pilot training without the long-standing tradition of initially training in fixed wing.

The Navy’s COPTR program will utilize the Bell 206B Jet Ranger helicopter with training operations being conducted in Fort Worth, Texas. After COPTR program completion, the Student Naval Aviators (SNAs) will then move on to Naval Air Station Whiting Field to continue their helicopter pilot training program.

“To say that Helicopter Institute and Team SkyWarrior partners are humbled to have been selected for the COPTR study would be an understatement. It is an honor to serve our nation’s warfighters,” said Randy Rowles, President, Helicopter Institute.