CAE to Develop P-8A Operational Flight Trainer for Royal New Zealand Air Force

Global training system integrator, CAE today announced it received an order from Boeing to supply a P-8A operational flight trainer (OFT) for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).

Montreal-based CAE will design and manufacture the hardware for the RNZAF’s P-8A flight simulator. The company will also develop a suite of P-8A Aircraft Equipment enhanced Desktop Environment (AeDTE) trainers, which will be used as role playing stations during training of P-8A aircrews, said CAE’s statement. The P-8A OFT and AeDTEs are scheduled for delivery to RNZAF Base Ohakea in 2023.

“We are pleased to continue supporting Boeing on the development of training systems for the international customers acquiring the next-generation P-8 maritime patrol aircraft,” said Group CAE’s President, Defence & Security, Daniel Gelston. 

“We are a strategic partner to the New Zealand Defence Force due to the critical training services we provide across a range of platforms such as the T-6C, SH-2G, and NH90.  We look forward to the P-8 being added to the list of training systems that CAE has played a role in delivering to support the safety, training and readiness of Royal New Zealand Air Force aircrew.”

The P-8A OFT for the RNZAF will be similar to the P-8A OFTs that CAE and Boeing have already developed for the US Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Royal Air Force.  CAE designs and manufactures the P-8 OFT hardware to Level D standards, the highest qualification for flight simulators. CAE also provides the 737-800 OFT software baseline and simulation-based software lab environment that is used for the P-8 OFT development and integration tasks. CAE then delivers the simulators to Boeing, who designs, installs and integrates software specific to the P-8 aircraft.

The announcement was made on the eve of CAE’s CAE OneWorld virtual conference and tradeshow. The event begins tomorrow and will feature a range of panel discussions, conference presentations, and product demonstrations on the latest digital innovations for military training and simulation. 

CAE OneWorld 2021 is free to all attendees who register (https://www.caeoneworld2021.com/) and will remain online for one month. -shp/adj/aaa PHOTO: CAE