FlightSafety International is preparing to set up a pilot training school and simulation centre in the Thai city of Chiang Mai with Thai conglomerate Loxley, writes Brendan Sobie.
FlightSafety director of Pacific-Asia operations Mike Wilson says the US company and Loxley are discussing launching an ab initio pilot training course in 12 to 18 months and later establishing a simulator centre.
“We’re going through the feasibility study right now,” Wilson says. “It looks like it’s going to be a go.”
FlightSafety is looking at acquiring simulators for the Airbus A320, Boeing 737-300 and several models of helicopters for the new training centre.
FlightSafety has already begun talks with several Asian carriers interested in sponsoring ab initio students to help overcome pilot shortages.
FlightSafety plans to visit Diamond Aircraft in Austria later this month and is considering ordering 10 DA40 single-engined and five DA42 twin-engined trainers for the new Thai school, which is preparing to train 40 students in its first year of operation.
“We’re trying to bring FlightSafety quality of training to Southeast Asia and we’ll base it in Thailand,” says Wilson.
Source: Flight International
