Lufthansa Flight Training (LFT) has installed a second Boeing 737-800 full-flight simulator at its Berlin Schonefeld centre to increase capacity for third-party training. Built by Thales Training & Simulation, the device is on operating lease from GE Capital Aviation Training (GECAT), which will jointly market the simulator, with LFT Berlin handling booking and contracting arrangements.
The Next Generation 737 simulator, and a CAE-built Boeing 747-400 machine installed at LFT's Frankfurt centre late last year, have been added primarily to attract customers outside of the Lufthansa Group. With 31 devices in three locations, LHT says it is offering about half of its simulator hours on the open market.
Acquisition of Level D simulators for the 737-800 and 747-400 "responds to a growing need on the open market for training on those airliner types", says Dr Norbert Wiesner, head of LFT's simulator department.
The new 737NG simulator has an Evans & Sutherland EP-1000CT visual system, and LFT is upgrading its fleet to the new image generator. LFT Berlin has completed the upgrade of its fleet, which includes Airbus A310, A320 and A330/A340 as well as 737-300 devices.
The speed of airport database creation and insertion possible with the EP-1000CT "gives us the flexibility we need to address our third-party training business", says LFT.
Source: Flight International
