L-3 Communications [LLL] on Tuesday said it has acquired Aerosim, a Florida-based firm that provides commercial flight training to meet the demands of international airlines.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. L-3 said that Aerosim will generate about $50milllion in sales in 2017 and be accretive to earnings.
L-3 said the acquisition will position it to fill the needs of airlines, which are facing a shortage of qualified pilots.
“The addition of Aerosim is a good fit with L-3’s expanding business of providing customized solutions that address the global shortage of pilot training resources and the increasing demand for qualified pilots,” Michael Strianese, L-3’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “Aerosim adds value to our portfolio and further exemplifies our disciplined growth strategy in key markets.”
Aerosim will be integrated into L-3 Commercial Training Solutions (CTS), part of L-3’s Electronic Systems business segment, and will be renamed L-3 Aerosim-CTC. L-3 said that Aerosim’s portable and flexible pilot and maintenance technician training products and its flight school that trains prospective United States and international airline pilots are complementary to L-3 CTS.
L-3 said that L-3 Aerosim-CTC will allow the L-3 CTS division to augment existing flight training operations in Arizona, the United Kingdom, Thailand and New Zealand. The deal also provides additional training products that complement L-3 CTS’ existing suite of RealitySeven full flight simulators and flat panel trainers.
L-3 CTS includes L-3 Link UK, L-3 CTC Aviation, and L-3 Aerosim CTC. The division provides complete training solutions for pilots and maintainers across a wide range of commercial platforms.
Dave Rapley, Aerosim’s CEO, will remain with the company. The acquisition closed on Sept. 30.