MOD seeks contractors for multi-engine pilot training

The Ministry of Defence has issued a notice seeking civilian providers to deliver multi-engine pilot training for Royal Air Force personnel between January 2026 and December 2027.

According to the Prior Information Notice, the contract is valued between £0 and £4 million and will run for two years. Up to 24 pilots will undergo training at a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Approved Training Organisation, with the work based out of Naphill.

The programme will be split into two training routes. The first, covering up to 12 trainees, is designed for what the MOD terms Multi-Engine Crossovers (MEXO). These pilots may include fast-jet or rotary-wing aircrew who have already completed frontline tours. Training will draw on elements of the Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Instrument Rating (IR) modular courses, along with the Airline Pilot Standard (APS) Multi-Crew Cooperation (MCC) Course.

The aim is to reach a skill standard close to a CPL/IR, though no licence will be awarded, as candidates will not meet the minimum CAA prerequisites. Additional modules beyond civilian requirements will also be included.

The second route, also for up to 12 trainees, will combine single-engine and multi-engine training prior to further military instruction. The single-engine stage will follow a syllabus similar to a Private Pilot Licence, intended to build Pilot in Command experience and strengthen instrument flying. This will be followed by a multi-engine phase focusing on instrument and asymmetric flight, with the APS MCC Course included.

For both streams, trainees will have already completed various levels of military flying training before arriving with the contractor. Those on the MEXO pathway will normally have undergone Elementary Flying Training, Fast-Jet Lead-In, and Basic Fast-Jet Training, while others may be ab-initio candidates who have finished only Elementary Flying Training.

The MOD has made clear that while CAA approval of the courses is not required, the training must deliver near-equivalent proficiency to civilian licensing standards. The work will also require integration of additional modules tailored to RAF operational needs, including preparation for onward training routes within the service. The contract will be classified under CPV code 80521000 (training programme services) and may be subject to renewal.