GE Capital is expanding its commercial flight training business under agreements with Thomson-CSF and Cathay Pacific Airways.
Under a joint venture agreement, Thomson-CSF will transfer its Orbit training centre operations to GE Capital Aviation Training (GECAT), which also operates the former Raytheon/Hughes training centre at London Gatwick.
GECAT will assume operation of Orbit's new eight-bay London Heathrow centre and four-bay East Midlands Airport base. The deal includes six simulators: one Airbus A310, three A320s, one A340 and a Boeing 737NG.
GECAT's agreement with Cathay will allow it to market excess training time available on the airline's A330/A340 and Boeing 747-200, 747-400 and 777 simulators at Hong Kong International Airport. GECAT will also install four more simulators, for the A320, A330/A340, 737NG and 757.
FlightSafety Boeing Training International (FSBTI), meanwhile, has announced plans to expand its fleet of simulators. The joint venture is to add two Boeing 717 machines in 2001, taking its fleet to three. Six 737NG simulators will be added by the end of 2001, taking its fleet to nine. The manufacturer and location of the simulators has not been disclosed.
Source: Flight International
