Emirates and CAE today formally opened their ultra-modern pilot training facility at the world-class commercial park Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO). The facility was inaugurated by the unveiling of a plaque by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, at an event attended by customers and officials from around the world.
The DSO centre is the second training centre owned and operated by Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT). Completed last month in record time after a whole year in the planning construction phases, this state-of-the-art centre brings Emirates and CAE’s joint investment in the region to over US$260 million.
Having celebrated the 10-year milestone of their joint partnership in the region last year, Emirates and CAE have continually invested in the management and expansion of their joint venture – Emirates CAE Flight Training – growing the business substantially and earning ECFT its reputation in the industry as a centre of training excellence.
The new DSO facility will initially house five full-flight simulator (FFS) training bays with three already installed, substantially increasing the region’s vital pilot and technician training capacity and providing much-needed support for its established and increasing group of airline customers. ECFT’s new 55,000 square foot facility already boasts industry-leading Airbus and Boeing flight training simulators with breakthrough visual realism, cockpit replication and high-fidelity avionics simulation with flight and ground-handling characteristics indistinguishable from an operational aircraft.
The centre also features ten briefing/de-briefing rooms, three large classrooms and a high-tech computer-based training room offering clients everything they need to prepare pilots and technicians for a safe career in the skies.
Founded in 2002, ECFT’s early business was conducted from a satellite centre in modest premises in the Dubai Airport Freezone, with just two full-flight training simulators. The business soon expanded and on 6th December 2003, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai officially opened the current facility in a bespoke training centre adjacent to the Emirates Aviation College in Garhoud, Dubai.
Today the Garhoud centre boasts some 13 training bays and is one of the largest pilot training facilities in the world. Now almost most reaching full capacity, the need arose to expand and construct the new DSO centre inaugurated today.
