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Crew Training International lands $22M F-16 training contract

May 6, 2014 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Defense contractor Crew Training International Inc. said it has landed a $22 million U.S. Air Force contract for weapons systems support on the F-16 jet fighter.

The millionth F-16 flying training hour at Luke AFB was reached on March 13th, 2013. F-16s first touched down at Luke AFB on December 6th, 1982. To date, Luke has graduated 18,164 F-16 fighter pilots. Approximately 2,000 F-16 hours are flown a month by Luke pilots and students. This photo shows F-16D block 42 #89-2157 from the 309th FS. [USAF photo by A1C. Devante Williams]

Work will include academic instruction, aircrew training devices, courseware development and training support at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. CTI employs 160 people, including 25 in Memphis, Tennessee.

The full Air Force award on the training contract totals $49 million, and partners CTI with Sonoran Technology and Professional Services LLC of Goodyear, Arizona.

A statement released by CTI says both firms will “provide Air Education and Training Command’s F-16 training community a solid grounding of interwoven experience, war fighting expertise in front-line weapon systems, high-caliber instructional quality, and technical specialization to meet the rigorous requirements of the F-16” support contract.

The agreement opens June 1 and includes four one-year options through April 2019.


Additional images:

The 54th FG received its first three-ship formation of F-16s at Holloman AFB on April 1st, 2014. The 54th FG will operate two F-16 training squadrons at Holloman by the end of 2015. [USAF photo by A1C. Chase Cannon]

USAF F-16C block 42 #88-0472 from the 309th FS taxis after landing at Holloman AFB on December 7th, 2012. Eighteen F-16s deployed to Holloman AFB to test infrastructure, range and airspace capabilities to support the F-16 formal training unit, which will be moving to Holloman AFB. [USAF photo by SrA. DeAndre Curtiss]