Embraer delivered the first Phenom 100 business jet to Affinity Flight Training Services in Sao Paulo on 4th July. The aircraft has been selected to provide Multi-Engine Pilot Training to the UK armed forces as part of the UK MoD’s Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) programme.

The contract with Affinity — a joint venture between Kellogg Brown and Root Ltd and Elbit Systems UK — comprises a firm order for five Phenom 100s and services support, as well as an option for additional follow on aircraft. Under a £1.1bn contract signed in February 2016, Affinity is also supplying Grob 120TP ‘Prefects’ and Beechcraft ‘Texan’ T-6Cs for the UKMFTS programme.

The Fixed Wing programme is intended to replace the Elementary, Multi-Engine and Basic Flying Training that is currently delivered on aging platforms with a fully integrated solution that provides state-of-the-art training aircraft, ground-based training devices and courseware all derived from the training design developed by Ascent Flight Training, the Training Service Provider of the UKMFTS programme.

In 2014, Affinity was selected by Ascent Flight Training (a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Babcock International) to provide and maintain the aircraft selected for the UKMFTS programme.

The UKMFTS takes UK armed forces aircrew from initial training through Elementary, Basic and Advanced flying training phases preparing them for their arrival at their designated Operational Conversion Units.

Under the Rotary Wing portion of the programme, a contract was  placed with Airbus Helicopters UK Limited in May 2016 to deliver 29 H135 and 3 H145 training aircraft along with through-life support.