CAE inks training deals with Vietnam Airlines

CAE, a world-leading provider of simulation and modelling technologies and integrated training solutions for the civil aviation industry, has just clinched two contracts to aid in training solutions for Vietnam Airlines.

Pascale Alpha, director of global communications at CAE, unveiled to the Daily via email that the deals covered the sale of an Airbus A320 full-flight simulator and simulation equipment as well as the CAE Global Academy’s provision of pilots for the national flag air carrier.

CAE did not disclose the value of the contracts with Vietnam Airlines, but said these were part of its new training solutions contracts with combined list prices of C$55 million with Bombardier, the France’s based firm ATR, Vietnam Airlines, and a US-based legacy airline.

Under the contracts with Vietnam Airlines, the A320 full-flight simulator as well as a brief-debrief station and a smoke generation system will be delivered in 2011 to the Vietnamese carrier’s new training centre planned in HCM City.

The CAE Global Academy will train pilot candidates ab initio – meaning those taking training from the very beginning – for Vietnam Airlines. Over the past years, CAE has provided type rating training for Vietnam Airlines pilots at the Canada-based company’s training centers in Singapore, Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur and China’s Zhuhai.

Jeff Roberts, CAE’s group president in charge of civil simulation products, training and services, said the contracts with Vietnam Airlines proved continuing expansion in high-growth markets and its capabilities to meet demands of airlines.

“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,” Roberts said.

Pham Ngoc Minh, CEO of Vietnam Airlines, said that the new contracts with CAE were fresh moves of the airline to reach a new level of its position in Southeast Asia and standards.

“These next steps in our relationship with a global training solutions leader, CAE, further demonstrate Vietnam Airlines’ position as a major carrier in Southeast Asia as well as our commitment to the highest standards of professionalism of our flight crews,” Minh said.

Vietnam Airlines envisages in its development strategy to become one of the leading carriers in the region in years to come. To realise this target, the airline is investing heavily in human resource and expansion of its modern aircraft fleet.

The new member of global airline alliance SkyTeam plans to expand its aircraft fleet from 57 last year to 70 this year, 115 by 2015 and 165 by 2020.

The CAE Global Academy is the world’s largest network of ab initio schools for professional aviation. It can train 1,800 new airline pilots every year at its 11 flight schools in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Tags: CAE, Vietnam airlines, Vietnam aviation, Vietnam aviation industry, Vietnam aviation market