Asia has emerged as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise gloomy outlook for commercial flight simulator manufacturers. Asian customers placed most new simulator orders in 2002, and aircraft deals announced towards the end of the year will generate additional training requirements.
In December, CAE announced the sale of a Boeing Next Generation 737 simulator to Korean Air. The machine, complete with the Canadian manufacturer's latest Tropos visual system, will be operational in the carrier's Incheon airport training centre by the third quarter of this year.
The deal followed the sale by CAE of an Airbus A320 simulator to China Eastern Airlines and an Airbus A330 simulator to Taiwan's EVA Airways, and a Boeing 737-800 to China Southern Airlines. Commercial flight training providers, including CAE, are also stepping up their presence in the region. FlightSafety Boeing Training International has expanded its Kunming, China, training centre by installing a 737-700/800 simulator relocated from Atlanta, Georgia, and a Boeing MD-90 moved from Long Beach, California, to provide training for China Northern Airlines.
Also competing for business in China, GE Commercial Aviation Training (GECAT) has relocated a 737-300 simulator from its London Gatwick site to Shandong Airlines' training centre in Qingdao. The company operates three simulators in Hong Kong, in bays leased from Cathay Pacific Airways, and plans to add a fourth. GECAT also markets training on China Eastern's simulators in Shanghai.
CAE, meanwhile, has formed a training joint venture, Huhai Xiang Xi Aviation Technology, with China Southern, which markets training on the airline's Zhuhai-based simulators. Bombardier has formed a similar venture, Qingdao Fei Sheng Training Centre, to provide training for Chinese airlines on Shandong's CRJ200 simulator.
Source: Flight International
