Article Posted on : - Jan 12, 2009

A 320. Airbus image

HYDERABAD (PTI): National Aviation Company of India is in the process of acquiring a new Airbus 320 flight simulator for training pilots at the city-based Central Training Establishment, a top NACIL official said.

"We are in the process of getting a brand new Airbus 320 flight simulator at the CTE," National Aviation Company of India Ltd executive director (Operations & Training) Ashok Raj told reporters here.

NACIL is acquiring a new flight simulator keeping in view its future pilot training requirements, Raj said, adding that the simulator would be installed over the next 6-12 months.

NACIL is the holding company formed after the merger of Air India and Indian (erstwhile Indian Airlines) in 2007.
At present, CTE has three simulators — a Boeing 737 simulator, a full flight simulator bought from Thales Training and
Simulation of UK in 1988 and two Airbus 320 simulators imported from CAE-Canada, installed in 1990 and 1993, respectively.

"Our current utilisation of the two airbus simulators is more than 20 hours, with pilots flocking to the institute throughout the year to hone their flying skills," Raj said.

The institute imparted command training to some 40 pilots besides performance training to 60 co-pilots for endorsement on A319, A320, A330 aircraft and Boeing 737 including DO-228 aircraft, he said.

Established in 1958, CTE is a premier aviation institute in the country, offering the most comprehensive training in flying and flight engineering apart from aircraft engineers, technicians, commercial offices and cabin crew to NACIL.