Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) has become an authorised Bell Helicopter Training Facility for operators of the Bell 412 helicopter across the Middle East and Asia.
Following his official inauguration of the Dubai Helishow 2006 at Dubai Airport Expo, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman & Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, signed the agreement at the event with Bob Pope, Regional Sales Manager Europe, Middle East, Africa, Bell Helicopter.
In attendance at the signing were Graham Rush, Head of Consulate and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Consulate of Canada in Dubai, and Dave Barette, Managing Director of Emirates-CAE Flight Training.
Sheikh Ahmed said: “Emirates-CAE Flight Training is now well established as one of the leading centres for aviation training, attracting pilots from around the Middle East and Asia. I am pleased to welcome Bell Helicopter and I am confident that this agreement to become an authorised Training Facility will serve the requirements of our customers, both in the commercial and government aviation sector.”
Emirates – CAE Flight Training is approved by both the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Joint Airworthiness Authorities (JAA). The Bell 412 full flight simulator is certified to FAA Level D standard and is also the first of its type in the world to be certified to Level D standard by the UK-CAA.
Commenting on the agreement, Mr Pope said: “Bell is very pleased to join forces with the Emirates-CAE team in providing world-class 412 flight training for our customers in this part of the world. Having Emirates-CAE as our 412 flight training partner in Dubai provides our customers with Bell quality flight training in a state-of-the-art full flight simulator and in a very accessible location.”
Sheikh Ahmed also signed an agreement with Amer Al Sulaim, Executive Director – Aviation, Saudi Aramco, to train its helicopter pilots at ECFT, extending the current training agreement for the Gulfstream, Hawker and Boeing business jet.
“I am pleased to see a first-class aviation training facility within this region that is FAA certified,” said Mr Al Sulaim. “This agreement is an extension of our on-going, fruitful relationship which is in line with our strategic focus on working with businesses in the region.”
Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) is located close to Dubai International Airport and is jointly operated by the Emirates Group and CAE, the Montreal-based manufacturer of full-flight simulators and training provider. Qualified to both JAA and FAA standards, the facility offers training to commercial airlines and corporate aircraft operators in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia.
In addition to the Bell 412 helicopter, the 14-bay centre houses 10 full-flight simulators: Two Airbus A320ACJs, an Airbus A330/340, one Boeing 777, two Boeing 737 NG/BBJs, a Gulfstream V and a Hawker 800/800XP.
Bell Helicopter is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognised for world-class customer service, innovationi and superior quality, Bell’s global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries.
The Emirates Group comprises Emirates Airline, Dnata, the largest travel services provider in the Middle East, and a number of commercial relationships.
Emirates is the world’s third most profitable airline and among the 20 largest. It is based in Dubai, one of the few cities in the world that pursues an open-skies policy, with more than one hundred airlines in free and fair competition. emirates.com
CAE is a leading provider of simulation and modelling technologies as well as integrated training services for commercial and business aviation, and defence customers worldwide. The company has annual revenues of approximately C$1 billion, with operations and training facilities in 17 countries on five continents. cae.com.
