ST Aerospace Academy (STAA) has invested S$15 million ($11.7 million) in expanded infrastructure, including a pilot training facility at Ballarat airport, Australia, and a flight simulator centre at Seletar Aerospace Park, Singapore.
The facility expansion at Ballarat airport in the Australian state of Victoria includes a flight operations centre (FOC) at the airport and a new facility at the airport's perimeter, which will comprise 1,300m2 (14,000ft2) of administrative space and 7,700m2 of classroom facilities, said STAA, ST Aerospace's commercial pilot training arm.
The FOC will feature an aircraft apron that can accommodate a fleet of up to 40 aircraft. STAA's current facility is about 200m from the new location and can accommodate up to 20 aircraft.
STAA said it has purchased an Airbus A320 flight simulator, which will be installed at its new facility in Seletar Aerospace Park, Singapore.
In addition, STAA acquired an all-glass cockpit aircraft fleet comprising 12 single-engine Cessna 172S and four new multi-engine Piper PA44 Seminole aircraft, which feature all-glass cockpits, said the academy.
Meanwhile, Hainan Airlines has selected STAA to provide ab initio flying training and high performance aircraft training (HPAT) for 100 cadet pilots. The first batch began training in August this year, the academy added.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
