UK Cadets Can Now Train with L3Harris in FL

L3Harris Technologies has received approval from the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to teach Integrated Air Transport Pilot License (ATPL) courses to U.K. cadets at its Sanford Flying Training Academy near Orlando, Florida. An equivalent approval with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and other global regulators is expected in coming weeks as initial oversight activity concludes.

The approval positions L3Harris to expand training when pilot shortages continue to plague airlines across the globe. The accreditation enables cadets training for ATPL licenses to complete a basic 32-week flight training course at the Florida-based academy. The program incorporates single-engine aircraft flights, skills tests and a first solo flight, as well as navigation and night flying, before returning to the U.K. to complete advanced multi-engine flight training. The course is also designed to take a cadet from little or no flying experience to a fully qualified airline pilot in approximately 72 weeks.

“Integrated ATPL cadets can now complete basic flight training at our U.S. Academy, getting maximum use out of our fair weather Flight Academy in Orlando, Florida, which is in alignment with commercial airline and cadet customer feedback,” said Dave Coward, General Manager and Vice President for L3Harris Training Services. “With roughly 300 flying days a year - and our ideal location - this approval sets us up to expand training to maximize our international Academy footprint and more efficiently use our world-class facilities and training aircraft.”