Aircraft

The Italian air force will receive a full flight simulator for its C-27J Spartan tactical transport in 2009, under a €30 million ($44 million) contract placed with Alenia Aeronautica last October.

Being acquired using funds from the defence (€13 million) and economic development (€17 million) ministries, the full-motion device will be installed at Pisa air base, home of the air force's 46th Air Brigade, with the manufacturer to also provide availability-based support for the first two years of operation.

Air force deputy chief of staff Gen Giuseppe Bernardis says the 180° simulator will be installed in the same training facility used to support operations of Italy's Lockheed Martin C-130Js by year-end.

"Its capabilities will be offered internationally, under the aircraft user-group concept we are proposing to current and potential Spartan customers," he adds.

The concept builds on experience gained with Italy's C-27J engineering flight simulator, which has been in use since 2006 to support pilot conversion and emergency procedures training by Italy and other C-27J users.

"Both [the C-130J and C-27J] simulator systems are attracting international customer interest, and the 46th Air Brigade is preparing the facilities to accommodate personnel under training," says Bernardis.