CAE announced more than $90 million in new airline training contracts this week. The deals with some 30 global airlines encompasses everything from cadet pilot training to sales of flight simulators.
Multi-crew pilot training programs selected by easyJet, Air China and EVA Air will swell their first officer ranks by 120 over the next 12 months–30 each at easyJet and Air China and 60 at EVA. Under the agreements, CAE will select, assess and train the cadets at CAE Oxford Aviation Academy in the UK.
CAE (Chalet 56) also netted pilot type-rating agreements with Hong Kong Airline (A320/330); Aero Contractors (Dash 8-300/400 and B737-400/500); West Atlantic (ATP, CRJ200, B737 and B767); and Braathens Regional Airlines (ATR, Avro, Saab 340 and 2000, A320 and Fokker F50).
In addition, CAE garnered four more full-flight simulator (FFS) sales. This includes three B737 FFSs to Hainan Airlines and one A350XWB FFS to an undisclosed airline.
CAE’s civil president Nick Leontidis told AIN that increasingly airlines are asking the company to establish “pilot creation programs” that deal with all aspects of flight crew training. An example of this is its “Cadet to Captain” programs.
Another trend is that CAE is establishing more joint venture training operations, such as the academy it runs with China Eastern in Melbourne, Australia, and the simulator center it has with Japan Air Lines in Tokyo. “Joint ventures provide an anchor for the training center, because the airline has a vested interest in its success,” Leontidis commented. “For the clients we bring operational efficiencies and best practices to the partnership.”
Here at the Paris Air Show, CAE is promoting its new 7000XR full flight simulator. “It has an enhanced lifecycle saving for customers, and is more reliable and less expensive to operate because the technology is very industrial and mainstream,” said Leontidis.
The 7000XR features an improved instructor training station, new interfaces including to mobile devices and it can be more easily adapted to specific training needs. The first unit was delivered to Middle East Airlines a few months ago and this year it will account for up to 70 percent of CAE simulator production this year.
Meanwhile, CAE promoted Dean Fisher to vice president of commercial training solutions and business development. He previously was vice president and general manager for global simulation products at the company. In his new role, Fisher is responsible for training solution sales to commercial aviation operators.
