MONTREAL, QUEBEC – CAE today announced that it was awarded C$55 million at list prices in new training solutions contracts with Bombardier, ATR, Vietnam Airlines, and a U.S.-based legacy airline. The contracts include the sale of four full-flight simulator orders which bring the total FFS sales that CAE has announced during fiscal year 2011 to six.
Bombardier
CAE has sold a CAE 7000 Series FFS to Bombardier Aerospace for the new (i)Learjet 85 business aircraft.
“CAE is very pleased to work closely with Bombardier once again to support the launch of an exciting new aircraft type,” said Jeff Roberts, CAE’s Group President, Civil Simulation Products, Training and Services.
The Learjet 85 aircraft FFS is scheduled for delivery to the Bombardier training centre in Montreal, Canada in 2012. In addition to training, the simulator will be used to support aircraft testing and certification in advance of the Learjet 85 jet’s entry into service in 2013.
“CAE continues to expand the envelope of simulation and modelling technology to enhance aircraft operator safety and efficiency,” said James Hoblyn, President, Bombardier Customer Services & Specialized and Amphibious Aircraft. “Their commitment to customer satisfaction mirrors Bombardier’s business philosophy, and we have full confidence in CAE’s ability to deliver uncompromising quality.”
The Learjet 85 aircraft features the Pro Line Fusion avionics suite, which CAE is also simulating for Bombardier’s Global Vision flight deck. The first Global Vision flight deck will be ready for training at Bombardier’s Montreal training facility (co-located with CAE’s headquarters) in 2011. Bombardier and CAE also have long-term Authorized Training Provider agreements for (i)Global Express, (i)Global 5000, Global Express (i)XRS, (i)Challenger 604, (i)Challenger 300, (i)Learjet 40, Learjet 40 (i)XR, (i)Learjet 45 and Learjet 45 XR aircraft training.
ATR
CAE has signed a contract with aircraft manufacturer ATR for one prototype CAE Series 7000 FFS capable of replicating both the ATR42-600 and ATR72-600 cockpits. CAE will also provide ATR with a CAE Simfinity maintenance/flight simulation training device (MFSTD) and a CAE Simfinity desktop trainer. In addition, ATR has selected CAE Flightscape flight data monitoring software to assist operators of ATR aircraft in monitoring performance trends for improving safety and efficiency.
“We are extremely pleased with the expansion of the relationship between two world leaders,” said Roberts. “ATR’s decision to work with CAE for their new advanced performance aircraft family reinforces CAE’s industry leadership in working closely with OEMs on prototype simulators. As well, their selection of the benchmark CAE Flightscape flight data monitoring software demonstrates ATR’s commitment for passenger safety and operator efficiency.”
CAE Flightscape flight data monitor (FDM) software has been selected by ATR to offer an FDM service to all ATR aircraft operators. The service will be provided jointly by ATR and CAE Flightscape. The FDM service is designed to assist with safety management programs, improve flight operations, and support other operational efficiencies.
“ATR has successfully collaborated with CAE on simulator projects recently, and these agreements elevate our relationship to a new level on behalf of our mutual customers,” said Jean-Pierre Cousserans, ATR’s Senior Vice-President of Customer Services. “CAE simulators and training equipment are very highly regarded by ATR operators who own them or have trained on them. The new flight data monitoring service, one of the most recent additions to our portfolio of value-added services, will assist our customers in further enhancing safety management when operating their ATR fleets.”
The prototype ATR42/72-600 FFS will be delivered in 2011 to the ATR training centre in Toulouse, France.
Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier of Vietnam, has ordered an Airbus A320 FFS and has signed a contract with the CAE Global Academy for the provision of 40 pilots.
“We are continuing to expand our leadership position in high-growth markets such as Asia,” said Roberts. “This new relationship with Vietnam Airlines demonstrates CAE’s comprehensive capabilities and flexibility to address the full spectrum of an airline’s cadet-to-captain training needs as their business model evolves.”
The A320 FFS, as well as a brief-debrief station and a smoke generation system, will be delivered in 2011 to a new training centre which Vietnam Airlines plans to build in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. CAE has provided type rating training for Vietnam Airlines pilots for several years at CAE training centres in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Zhuhai, China.
The ab initio pilot candidates will train at the CAE Global Academy location in Phoenix, Arizona. The CAE Global Academy is the world’s largest network of ab initio schools for professional aviation with 11 flight schools in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia and a capacity to train 1,800 new airline pilots annually.
“These next steps in our relationship with a global training solutions leader, CAE, further demonstrate Vietnam Airlines’ position as a major carrier in the Southeast Asian region, as well as our commitment to the highest standards of professionalism of our flight crews,” said Dr. Pham Ngoc Minh, president and CEO of Vietnam Airlines.
U.S. legacy airline
An undisclosed U.S. legacy airline has ordered a Boeing 737 simulator.
