Emirates And CAE to Launch Business Jet Training At New Aviation Training Centre

Emirates, the international airline of the UAE, and CAE of Canada announced today (Monday 5th November) the launch of Gulfstream business jet training at the new Emirates Aviation Training Centre, set to open in Dubai in early 2003.

The move follows their announcement in July of an agreement to build and jointly operate the centre which will be located adjacent to the existing Emirates training facility. The initial investment under the ten-year agreement is approximately US$100 million, with equal participation by Emirates and CAE.

Emirates' Chairman, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, said: "The introduction of business jet training reaffirms Emirates' commitment to the continued development of aviation training in the region.

"We are confident that the new facility will be the centre of excellence for business jet training, not only in the Middle East, but further afield, in Asia and the Far East."

The centre, when completed, will be a state-of-the-art training facility incorporating modern classrooms and briefing rooms. It will initially house five Full Flight Simulators (FFSs), with provision for seven more.

Anchor customer Qatar Airways will begin training in April 2002 at a transitional facility in the Dubai Airport Free Zone. This facility will house two full flight simulators, an Airbus A319/A320/A321 and a Boeing 737 NG, until their relocation to the new centre when it opens in early 2003.

CAE is currently building the two business jet FFSs, a Gulfstream IV and a Gulfstream V, certified to meet the FAA and JAA Level D standards, the highest in full flight simulator equipment.

"Gulfstream is proud to support CAE and Emirates," said Bryan Moss, Vice-Chairman, Gulfstream. "CAE and Emirates' decision to offer Gulfstream training at the new Emirates Aviation Training Centre will provide our many Middle East and Asia customers with high quality training available in a modern and convenient location."

The other simulators available at the new facility will include a Boeing 737-NG, an Airbus A319/A320/A321 and an A330/340.

"The state-of-the-art centre will be the first outside the United States to offer Gulfstream training," said Captain Bob van Balen, Executive Vice President, Aviation Training, Commercial Simulation and Training, CAE. "CAE will be bringing the same unmatched quality, technology currently used in its wide-bodied jet full flight simulator to the business jet training market."

CAE is the world's premier provider of simulation and control technologies for training and optimisation solutions in Aerospace, Defence and Forestry.

Headquartered in Canada and operating globally, the company employs morethan 7,000 people and has revenues in excess of C$1 billion. Emirates currently operates a modern fleet of 36 aircraft with flights to 56 destinations in 39 countries throughout the Middle East, Europe, Africa, West Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Pacific Rim and Australia. The airline announced its largest-ever aircraft order at the Dubai Airshow 2001 yesterday (Sunday 4th November) - valued at a massive US$15 billion. The 58 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft will boost Emirates' total fleet to 100 by the year 2010.