Boeing subsidiary Alteon Training has opened a £7 million ($12.5 million) aviation training centre near London Gatwick airport.
The 4,900m2 (53,000ft2) centre will host training for pilots, engineers and cabin crew, as well as soft-skills courses from Jeppesen UK, another Boeing subsidiary, for pilots, dispatchers and other flight operations staff.
The high-tech facility houses three full-flight simulators - one Boeing 737-700/800, one Boeing 757/767 and one Airbus A320 - which are certificated to European Joint Aviation Authorities Level C/D standards.
The centre will also deliver EASA Part 147 training courses for the Boeing 737-300/400/500/ 600/700/800 and the 777. Alteon plans to expand the facility to contain up to six full-flight simulators.
Alteon has opened two other training centres this year, in Atlanta, Georgia and Brisbane, Australia. It operates several other centres around the world, including in Africa, Asia and two other UK locations. Alteon president Patrick Gaines says it hopes to eventually provide a global network of training centres.
"By placing training centres at locations that support our customers' operational needs, we invest in the training infrastructure so airlines can focus on their core business of safely carrying passengers to their destinations," says Gaines.
Source: Flight International
