L-3 buys CTC to boost its international training ambitions

L-3 Communications has bought UK-headquartered CTC Aviation for an estimated $210million. CTC has been growing across Africa with airline deals with Fastjet and First Nation and other contracts in North Africa.
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The company also recently secured an exclusive agreement with its long-standing partner airline, British Airways, to deliver Airbus A320 training for both newly-qualified and experienced pilots. This is the first time that the UK flag carrier airline has committed to an exclusive partnership with an independent training provider. It has bases in the UK, New Zealand and the USA,
The acquisition expands L-3’s commercial aviation training portfolio that also includes L-3 Link UK -  a provider of flight training simulation devices to a growing portfolio of airline and third-party training company customers.
A  statement issued by L3 said that CTC Aviation and L-3 Link UK will retain their individual brands and strengths as independent operational entities, “while continuing to focus on and serve all their existing customers and markets.”
“We are really excited about this next chapter in CTC Aviation’s global growth.  Our two organisations share the same ‘committed to excellence’ culture and exacting focus on the customer. I am looking forward to what the future holds for our companies, our staff and – most importantly - our customers,” said Rob Clarke (pictured left), president of CTC Aviation.  “We are now in a position to be able to bring our tailored, solutions-based approach to an even wider global market – our Partner airlines and our individual retail customers”.
The collaboration of the two businesses enables new and innovative solutions to airline pilot training, graduate placement services and flight simulation equipment, the company said. 

“Driven by a focus on the customer, quality, service and safety, this new partnership of world class training devices and training delivery places L-3 Link UK and CTC Aviation in the unique position to provide customers with unrivalled training solutions whatever their requirements,” said Alan Crawford Managing Director of L-3 Link UK. “We look forward to working very closely with CTC Aviation to bring to our customers the unique propositions that can only be delivered by a customer-focussed training and resourcing solutions company”. 

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