Leonardo, through its Helicopters Division and in coordination with Aircraft Division, has become the first industrial player in Italy to deliver the entire range of military aircraft basic maintenance training. This was possible through the “Maintenance Training Organisation” certification recently assigned to Leonardo Helicopters by the Italian Secretariat General of Defence/National Armaments Directorate, according to the AER(EP) P-147 national regulation and the European Defence Agency’s EMAR 147. The relevant courses will be provided by several Leonardo sites across Italy, including Sesto Calende, Venegono, and Torino Caselle, which have existing training capabilities.

This achievement allows Leonardo to align to the evolution of the regulations, allowing aviation maintenance technicians to be qualified for aircraft, helicopters, remotely piloted systems, and component maintenance activities. The required skills will be obtained both by ab initio courses and conversion from EASA civil license.

Leonardo is further extending its solid maintenance training services, combining capabilities from the helicopters, aircraft and electronics divisions. Leonardo’s basic training is part of a broader training capability for technicians and, more collaboratively, for customers too. In addition to military and civil aviation maintenance training, Leonardo looks after technician training also in line with the new standard set by the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (S-Series).

Among the first Leonardo programmes benefitting from the training services, in accordance with the new certification standard: the AW139 and AW169 helicopters for military and government users (type rating), the International Flight Training School (IFTS) established through the collaboration with the Italian Air Force to train latest generation aircraft’s pilots using the M-346, and the Falco Xplorer remotely piloted system, and the military platforms’ components for basic maintenance training.

The new certification provides further evidence of Leonardo’s commitment to deliver an ever increasing level of comprehensive and modern support and training services, providing greater and greater safety, quality, mission effectiveness, affordability and sustainability, all key factors for Leonardo’s Be Tomorrow 2030 Strategic Plan.