Signs New Training Contracts

Canadian simulator company, CAE, has been awarded $25 million ($CDN) of new aviation training business, based on expected simulator usage for centres in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain.

"We look forward to forging long-term relationships with each of these first-time customers," Gary Scott, CAE's group president of civil simulation and training, said. Three airlines have signed agreements to train in Amsterdam, including Germany's Germania Express, which has a three-and-a-half year agreement to train on the Fokker 100 full-flight simulator, and Netherlands-based Martinair, which has a one-and-a-half year agreement for Airbus A320 training.

Transafrik, whose principal hub is in Luanda, Angola, and Ariana Afghan Airlines will both train at CAE's Brussels centre. Transafrik pilots will train on the C-130/L100; pilots from Ariana Afghan will train on the Airbus A300. They are among two of five airlines that recently signed to train in Brussels.

CAE also signed multi-year contracts with five other customers to train in Madrid and Maastricht.

CAE's global network of training centres has more than 90 full-flight simulators in service, giving the company flexibility to move around equipment to better serve clients' needs. Increased demand from European clients, such as Germania, for Fokker 100 training has prompted the company to move an F100 full-flight simulator from the Brazil centre to Amsterdam. A new Airbus A320 will be installed in Brazil.

FMI: www.cae.com