Helicopter Flight Training Services GmbH was founded by an industrial consortium of the companies CAE Elektronik GmbH (CAE), Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD), Rheinmetall Defence Electronics GmbH (RDE), and Thales Deutschland (THD) in 2004. Utilizing the private operator model for the first time in Germany, HFTS was commissioned by the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement to establish and operate training centres for crews of the modern multi-purpose helicopter NH90.

The focus of HFTS is the development, production and operation of four full mission simulators suitable for comprehensive pilot training. Beginning in 2008, the simulators will be used in the new NH90 training centres in Bückeburg, Faßberg and Holzdorf. The training centres developed by HFTS for the German helicopter pilots will be the first of their kind in Europe.