Cobham contract

Cobham has been awarded a contract worth £18m by Ascent Flight Training for the first phase of the United Kingdom Military Flying Training Service (UKMFTS).

Run by Ascent, the UKMFTS has been set up to provide tri-service training over the next 25 years.

The contract is for the modification of four special mission Hawker-Beechcraft B350ER King Air aircraft at Cobham Aviation Services facilities at Bournemouth International Airport and the provision of in-service support for an initial period of five years at RNAS Culdrose.

Stephen Fitz-Gerald, president of the Cobham Aviation Services Division, said: ‘I'm delighted that we can contribute to the provision of training for Royal Naval observers in support of frontline operations, using our extensive experience in the operation, modification and maintenance of both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft for the UK MoD.’

Separately, two Cobham facilities in Aurora, Oregon, and Bothell, Washington, are to be merged to create an avionics centre of excellence at the company’s existing avionics facility at Prescott, Arizona.

According to Cobham, the move will establish an integrated development base for communication products in Prescott and will result in the loss of around 150 positions.

‘This consolidation is part of the continued transformation of Cobham Avionics and will enable us to better serve our customers and focus on the development of new avionics products,’ said Mike Sheehan, vice-president of Cobham Avionics.