Army moves toward contractor-run pilot training after years of safety concerns

The U.S. Army has advanced at least two bidders in its rotary-wing pilot training overhaul, moving closer to outsourcing how it trains new pilots. Some aviators are hopeful about the change. Bell and M1 Support Services this week announced advancement in the Army’s Flight School Next program, an initiative that would shift key parts of rotary-wing pilot training — including aircraft maintenance and both academic and flight instruction — to a contractor-owned, contractor-operated schoolhouse. The change would also include a new training aircraft. Under the plan, contractors would provide a full training curriculum to produce 900 to 1,500 pilots annually, replacing the Army’s current initial entry rotary-wing training program. The change would mark the first time the Army has relied on a commercial system to train new aviators. Congress has placed restrictions on the effort, requiring the Army to justify the new training model and demonstrate its effectiveness before funds can be used to move forward, according to provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2026. The Army has not publicly said how many companies remain in the competition. The contractors have centered their plans on different training aircraft; Bell has proposed training on its Bell 505 helicopter, while the M1 bid would use Robinson Helicopters’ R66. The Army currently trains rotary-wing pilots on the UH-72A Lakota helicopter, which some aviators say has advanced systems that are too forgiv…