GE Capital Aviation Training (GECAT) has begun operations in Hong Kong under an agreement with Cathay Pacific Airways.
The company has installed an Airbus A320 flight simulator in Cathay Pacific's training centre at the new Hong Kong International Airport. GECAT is also marketing training on the airline's fleet of simulators, which represent the Airbus A330 and A340 and Boeing 747-200/400 and 777.
Among the first customers is Philippine Airlines, which has contracted with GECAT for A320, A330, A340 and 747 simulator training in Hong Kong.
The A320 simulator is GECAT's fourth for the Airbus narrowbody. The others are based at the company's UK training centres at East Midlands and London Gatwick. GECAT is to install three more of its own simulators in the Cathay Pacific centre by next year.
In Europe, meanwhile, GECAT and Crossair are to create a joint-venture regional aircraft training centre at the Swiss airline's Basle headquarters. The venture will begin operations in April 2001, using an Embraer RJ-145 simulator. The Basle centre houses a Saab 2000 device, Crossair's Saab 340 machine having been sold to Pan Am International Flight Academy, and will be expanded to accommodate up to six more simulators.
Source: Flight International
