Cassidian Aviation Training Services (CATS) has selected Cirrus SR20s and SR22s for training France’s Air Force and Navy pilots. A fleet of 13 SR20s will train pilots at the French air force base of Salon de Provence. An additional fleet of seven SR22s will be dedicated to training flights of navigating officers arm systems (NOSA) and liaison flights, in particular to accompany the French Air Force’s aerobatic team.
Another three SR20s will be dedicated to the students of the Ecole Navale at the naval air station of Lanvéoc Poulmic. CATS will be in charge of maintenance and airworthiness of all fleets. The transaction was handled by Cirrus France.
The Cirrus SR20s and SR22s will be added to a fleet of 18 Grob 120 already owned by CATS in the outsourcing agreement of the French Air Force Flight School, in addition to 35 TB30 Epsilon managed by CATS for the French Air Force and the Xingy managed by CATS for AVORD, the French Air Force Transport Flight School.
The first SR20 was delivered in Salon de Provence on August 9 and the first SR22 will be delivered in September. Delivery will continue through the end of 2012.
