Pilots Will Learn English As Part Of Flight And Technical
Training
Flight training is underway for the first contingent of Vietnam
Navy pilot delegates as part of the Force's multiple aircraft
purchase of Guardian 400 Twin Otters announced in May 2010. The
delegates have traveled from Vietnam to Canada to spend 17 months
undergoing English language, flight and technical training as part
of the purchase contract.
A customized English as a Second Language ("ESL") training
course will be conducted in partnership with Camosun College in
Victoria, BC. The Aviation Language Familiarization Course will be
taught by experienced instructors from the Language Department, and
will serve to provide the pilot trainees with a strong base of
English language skills as a prerequisite to the flight and
technical training included in the Viking/Vietnam agreement.
Once the ESL course is complete, the delegates will undergo the
flight and technical portion of the training at Viking's sister
organization, Pacific Sky Aviation, located at the Victoria
International Airport. Pacific Sky is responsible for delivering
all technical and flight training components, including ab-initio,
multi-engine and float ratings on various piston and turbine
aircraft, before transitioning over to the new Series 400 Twin
Otters on wheels and amphibious floats.
Michael Coughlin, Pacific Sky's CEO, stated "as a long time
provider of training services, Pacific Sky is excited to work with
Viking and Camosun College in providing such an integrated training
program for the Navy, and proud to be a part of the worldwide
training program for the Series 400 Twin Otter."
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The Vietnam multi-aircraft purchase announced in May last year
will see the delivery of six new Guardian 400 Twin Otters between
2012 and 2014 to be utilized for transport, resupply, maritime
surveillance and search and rescue operations throughout Vietnam's
coastal regions. The Twin Otters are the first Western-based
manufactured aircraft purchased by Vietnam's Ministry of Defense,
and will be the first ever fixed wing aircraft, Navy Air Wing
initiated by the Vietnamese Navy. Rob Mauracher, Vikings vice
president Business Development commented, "we are extremely pleased
to be in partnership with the Navy for the training of their flight
operations and technical personnel. Pacific Sky and Viking
recognize that this is a cornerstone of our product support program
for a smooth entry into service of the Guardian 400 and we foresee
additional students joining our training programs in the
future."
Viking launched the new DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 production
program in 2007, is currently delivering one aircraft per month,
and has a production backlog through 2014.
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.13.24)
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