In an update on the Dassault Falcon 7X training program,
orders for new all-electric full-flight simulators and the company's plans for
the very light jet market will most likely be the principal topics for
discussion when CAE descends upon Orlando this week.
"We're on track with this unique program," said Jeff
Roberts, group president of civil training and services of CAE's training
contract with Dassault for the 7X business jet.
So far, CAE has set up its regional training advisory board
and leveraged the experience from long-time customer Airbus regarding
fly-by-wire instruction for the 7X program. Roberts said the new training
solutions would be deployed initially at CAE's new business aviation training
center, currently under construction in Morris County, N.J. Training for the
Dassault Falcon 7X program also will be conducted at CAE's training center at
Burgess Hill, UK, which is already training easyJet's pilots on the Airbus A320
family of aircraft. Like all CAE training centers, Burgess Hill features
leading-edge concepts in courseware such as the PC-based Simfinity suite of
training aids.
In 2004 CAE was awarded an exclusive contract by Dassault to
provide entitlement training for pilots, maintenance personnel and cabin crew
for the Falcon 7X. Under the terms of the contract CAE is developing two Falcon
7X full-flight simulators, which are being assembled at its Montreal plant.
CAE will announce plans here at NBAA to build additional
full-flight simulators in addition to the 7X, Dassault Falcon 900EX and Falcon
2000EX EASy ones that will be housed in the North American training center in
Morris County. The new all-electric simulators will have lower direct operating
and lifecycle costs than the hydraulically based systems, said Roberts. Because
there is no need for a separate hydraulic fluid storage area, these
all-electric simulators will be more environmentally friendly than their
hydraulically controlled counterparts.
"We will announce additional simulator deployments in
support of the business aviation fleet in the Northeast, the UK possibly, and
other parts of the world," Roberts said.
The recent growth spurt is part of CAE's long-term strategic
plan to provide training all over the world, according to Roberts. "The
geographical expansion of our business aviation training network to better
serve our European business aviation customers is a very important priority for
CAE," stated Roberts. He said Burgess Hill was selected because of its
convenient location for European customers. The selection also allowed CAE to
make better use of its assets by converting its military training center at
Burgess Hill into one that also serves the business and commercial aviation
markets.
By 2006, CAE will operate four business aviation training
centers worldwide: Burgess Hill, UK; Morris County, N.J.; Dallas SimuFlight,
which has been operational since 1985; and Dubai, UAE, which trains flight
crews for both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.
Much of the recent growth activity is based on CAE's
"cautious optimism" that business aviation has recovered from the ill effects
of 9/11 and the recession, the SARS virus, wars and corporate scandals, Roberts
said.
CAE also plans to participate in the much-talked about VLJ
market by employing the latest in training methodologies, including Web-based
training and other distance learning tools. CAE has yet to sign on with any VLJ
manufacturers, but the NBAA Convention may provide the setting for such an announcement,
Roberts intimated.
"CAE is committed to the VLJ market, but the training has to
be something other than using traditional methods," Roberts concluded.
