SriLankan A320 Flight Simulator Marketed in the Region by SriLankan & SIM Industries

21st March 2011, www.lankabusinessonline.com

State-run SriLankan Airlines said had teamed up with Nederland-based SIM Industries to offer flight simulator services on Airbus A320 aircraft to the growing Indian subcontinent market.

"The A320 family of aircraft is favoured for mid-range routes among airlines worldwide, including those in the rapidly growing airline industry of the Indian Subcontinent," the airline said in a statement.

The flight simulator will be marketed in the region by both SriLankan (www.srilankan.aero) and SIM Industries (www.sim-industries.com) for the training of pilots in the operation of Airbus A320 aircraft.

The two firms had signed a 10-year deal on March 14. SriLankan said SIM Industries’ flight simulators are certified to ‘Level D’ standard, which makes it identical to that of an aircraft.

"There is a tremendous amount of potential to bring pilot training to Sri Lanka from around this region," Frank Uit den Bogaard, CEO of SIM Industries, said.

Sri Lankan says it is planning to add a second flight similar for pilot training on A330 and A340 aircraft, depending on the success of the first simulator.

The airline says flight simulator training is part of its strategy to make Sri Lanka an aviation hub under a government plan.

SriLankan already has a cadet pilot training program, and a technical training centre certified to 'EASA 147 'standard of the European Aviation Safety Agency.