BAe ready to offer planes for potential European pilots training center

Currently, seven pilots are being trained to use F-16 fighter planes in the U.S. The total number of pilots to be trained amounts to 70 and thus in-house training could be simply cheaper. "Next week we will hold a conference concerning the creation of the European pilots training center," said Roman Baszuk, Defense Minister proxy in charge of the purchase of F-16 jets. Another important issue is whether the army should purchase or lease training planes. "Switzerland has at its disposal used Hawk training planes. BAe Systems in cooperation with the British government and RAF is ready to deliver them to Poland," said John Neilson, BAe Systems marketing and communication director. He stressed that Poland could purchase new planes, the price of which is between GBP 10-15 million. This would mean offset obligations, which again, would be beneficial for PZL Mielec. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 10) M.M.