Frasca’s deliveries of the U.S. Navy’s Leonardo TH-73A Advanced Helicopter Training System are on time with all eight contracted new flight training devices (FTDs) delivered, installed, and hard at work.
In April 2021, Frasca was named subcontractor for the Navy’s TH-73A Aircrew Training Services (ATS) contract. FlightSafety Defense won the contract award to provide Contractor Instructional Services (CIS) and availability on 18 Frasca-designed and manufactured Level 6 and Level 7 Flight Training Devices (FTDs). FlightSafety subcontracted with Frasca to install 8 new TH-73 FTDs and modify the 10 existing TH-57B/C FTDs to reflect the new Navy aircraft.
Frasca has delivered eight of the eight new FTDs in nine months, meeting FlightSafety’s timeline. Ten TH-57 FTDs manufactured in 2019 and 2020 have also been delivered to FlightSafety and will soon undergo modification to the TH-73.
The new FTDs have allowed FlightSafety to maintain 100% training availability thanks to the extraordinarily effective and efficient teams both at FlightSafety and Frasca. The devices are being used for curriculum design, validation and verification, and to train student naval aviators initial entry rotor wing training, including hover, formation flight, night vision device, and shipboard operations, as well as course rules familiarity and instrument flying.
FlightSafety is providing all instruction, aircrew training support, and FTD operation while General Dynamics is overseeing FTD maintenance.