GE Capital Aviation Training (GECAT) and Embraer are to develop jointly a complete pilot, maintenance, flight attendant and flight dispatcher training system for ERJ-170 and ERJ-190 regional jets.
GECAT will develop courseware, provide simulators and deliver ground school and simulator training for the 70-seat ERJ-170 and 98/108-seat ERJ-190.
The deal represents a change of partner for Embraer, which relies on FlightSafety International to provide training for its smaller ERJ-135/145 regional jets.
GECAT is part of leasing company GE Capital Aviation Services, which has placed orders and options worth $3.6 billion for up to 150 ERJ-170/190s. Delivery of the ERJ-170s will begin in December 2002, followed in June 2004 by the ERJ-190.
CAE, meanwhile, believes it is well positioned to supply simulators for the aircraft, although GECAT is a joint venture between GE and Thomson-CSF, parent company of rival manufacturer Thomson Training &Simulation.
CAE has already been selected by Embraer to produce the development simulator for the ERJ-170/190. The Canadian company is also producing an ERJ-145 simulator for Crossair (launch customer for the ERJ-190), and the Swiss regional airline's training centre is now operated as a joint venture with GECAT.
Source: Flight International
