UNSPSC 78181902: Rotary wing aircraft training

A service for rotary wing aircraft hours of flight training on the control and maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments, including straight and level flight, constant airspeed climbs and descents, turns to a heading, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, radio communications, and the use of navigation systems/facilities etc

UNSPSC 78181902 Rotary wing aircraft training, a Commodity code, covers specialized helicopter pilot training and certification services that state and local governments procure to maintain operational readiness and regulatory compliance for law enforcement aviation units, state patrol aircraft operations, and public-sector pilot development programs. The scope encompasses initial and recurrent flight training on specific helicopter platforms—including Bell 407, Bell 206L-4, Pilatus PC-12 NG, and King Air 200—delivered by FAA-certified flight training academies holding Part 141 certification and designated pilot examiner authority. Training typically includes Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Flight Instructor, and Instrument Flight Instructor certifications, as well as mission-specific instruction such as search and rescue, hoist operations, aerial use of force, and water egress training. Issuing bodies include city police departments (Tampa Police Department Aviation Unit, Phoenix Police Department Air Support Unit), state law enforcement agencies (Colorado State Patrol Aircraft Unit, Texas Department of Public Safety), and public universities (Texas State University). Training providers must demonstrate minimum five-year operating history, appropriate insurance coverage, and operational facilities within specified geographic zones of their customer agencies.

Recent activity concentrates in Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and Florida. The City of Tampa Police Department issued a sole-source intent (27X00031, due October 15, 2026) for Bell 407 and Bell 206L-4 specialized flight training services. The City of Phoenix released an RFP (RFPGGS260297, due August 21, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., with a non-mandatory pre-offer conference July 31, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.) for a five-year helicopter pilot training and certification contract commencing January 1, 2027, requiring FAA Part 141 certification and a Phoenix metropolitan-area facility. The Colorado Department of Public Safety issued a Documented Quote (DQ1RBAA20270000951, due September 23, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time) for initial and recurrent flight training on Pilatus PC-12 NG and King Air 200 aircraft, with training location within 600 driving miles of Denver and a 3% price preference for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses verified by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Texas Department of Public Safety posted an open-enrollment solicitation (40525R0021451, applications due August 31, 2030) for FAA-certified Part 61 or Part 141 flight training academies in Texas, with Addendum 1 (effective May 26, 2026) removing all Historically Underutilized Business subcontracting plan requirements. Texas State University solicited FAA-certified Part 141 fixed-wing and rotor-wing flight instruction (RFP 754-TXST-2026-RFP-478-VPGOI, due May 22, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time).