US Army helicopter pilot training platform

In March 2015, the first UH-72A Lakota was delivered to what was then called Fort Rucker (AL). An additional 223 of these helicopters followed, replacing the TH-67A Creek previously in use.

The UH-72s are used as initial flight training platform but only less then ten years later a Request For Information (RFI) has been issued by the US Army to seek a replacement helicopter.

The RFI was issued on 8 October 2024, calling for information on both government-owned plus contractor operated, and contractor-owned plus contractor operated solutions. The deadline for this RFI is 8 December 2024. The current fleet of Lakotas is government (US Army) owned, but they are contractor operated. Virginia based company Amentum has been the US Army rotary-wing service provider since 1998.

The UH-72A was described by Major General Clair Gill, Commanding General, United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel (AL), as a very capable aircraft. Possibly too capable to teach a basic aviator. At the same the UH-72A was described as an expensive aircraft to operate.

Strikingly, because when the UH-72A was selected by the US Army as training helicopter, it was described as "almost too easy for the student to fly". Quite the opposite of what is now stated. The United States Navy seems to have realised this earlier on already, since they rejected the UH-72A as replacement for its fleet of ageing TH-57s.

No clarity was given on what the follow-up would be after the RFI closes, but even if this is the first step to a replacement of the UH-72A as training helicopter, it will still take several years before a final decision is made and a contract will be awarded. And even if that takes place, the UH-72A and UH-72B helicopters in use by the Army National Guard for Security and Support (S&S) and Medevac duties are expected to remain in service.

Credit photo: Staf Sgt Austin Berner/US Army (Scramble Archive)