Winner: Singapore Aviation Academy
Achievement: Providing a level and breadth of training unique in Asia-Pacific.
The Singapore Aviation Academy, the training arm of the Singapore Civil Aviation Authority has created a training centre with a broad range of services unique in South-East Asia. The capabilities of the Academy have, during 1995, been enhanced by the introduction of more advanced air-traffic-control and airport operations simulators, and the introduction of courses new to the Asia-Pacific region.
Offering the air traffic control (ATC) and airport fire-safety studies to degree level in conjunction with universities in New Zealand and the UK, the Academy also provides complete, customised training programmes for air traffic controllers and airport fire-service personnel. Training needs addressed range from ab initio to refresher or upgrade.
The Academy's new aerodrome simulator provides a 360¡ panoramic view of Singapore Changi Airport, and can be used by air traffic control or fire-service trainees. Its high-speed processors enable trainees to benefit from outstanding clarity in the moving images, which improves realism.
The new radar simulator has doubled the number of potential targets, from 120 to 240, and has introduced state-of-the-art ATC capabilities such as conflict alert, danger-area incursion warning and minimum safe-altitude incursion.
In 1995, the Academy's capabilities were used by many countries, but notably by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, who has contracted it to train the personnel necessary to enable the country to resume responsibility for providing air-traffic services over the South China Sea.
Finalist: China Airlines/ University of North Dakota
Achievement: China Airlines and the University of North Dakota together have launched the first consolidated ab initio pilot training programme which provides the trainee pilots with a jet type-rating on their licence.
CHINA AIRLINES (CAL) and University of North Dakota (UND) together designed the Jet Spectrum Airline Pilot Training Programme, which efficiently provides new pilots with "glass-cockpit", high-performance jet experience to accelerate their transition to a full type-rating on one of the Taiwanese carrier's Airbus, Boeing or McDonnell Douglas aircraft.
UND's Jet Spectrum course employs two newly acquired twinjet Raytheon Beech 400As which the students will fly to complete their airline-transport pilot's licence course. To gain their Beech 400A type-rating, the students will complete 60h ground school, 30h simulator training, and fly 46h on the aircraft itself. By using this method, CAL anticipates that the new pilots will make the transition to full line operation more quickly, smoothly and safely.
Source: Flight International
