RAF Valley to boost pilot training capabilities by nearly 50%

RAF Valley has opened a new building extension to allow for additional simulators to increase the basic flight training of trainee pilots by almost 50%, which it is hoped will help ease the current pilot training pipeline issues.

The new Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) building is part of a £175m investment by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) into Ascent's delivery of basic flight training within UKMFTS, the UK's military flying training system.

Ascent's industry partners from Babcock International and Kier have extended existing infrastructure to house the new simulators, adding additional instructors and other facilities to increase capacity for basic flying training.

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The SDSR building will house a Texan dome simulator (a flying training device), which was built by Lockheed Martin and scheduled to arrive at RAF Valley later this year.

Alongside this, the existing facility has been upgraded to provide increased mission planning capacity and improved facilities for trainees, instructors and other staff.

RAF Valley on Anglesey is home to No 4 Flying Training School, responsible for training the UK's next generation of world-class fighter pilots.

Jonathan Cowdry, Ascent general manager at RAF Valley, said: "It was a pleasure to host the formal opening of this facility and to be a part of the continued investment in the military flying training system, supporting the generation of employment and other opportunities on Ynys Môn."