New full-flight simulators join Etihad fleet

Etihad Airways has taken delivery of two new full-flight simulators, each costing AED 55m, which will be used to train the airline’s expanding flight deck crew of captains and first officers.

The simulators, made by CAE of Montreal in Canada, are based in the new Etihad headquarters, located near to Abu Dhabi airport, and can be adapted to recreate the flight deck of any aircraft in the Airbus A330 and A340 range.

The Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft form the backbone of Etihad’s rapidly expanding fleet which includes 12 A330-200s, one A340-300 and four A340-500s.

Each simulator is equipped with high performance hydraulic motion and control loading systems, and use satellite imagery, as well as sophisticated weather and lighting effects, to provide realistic training scenarios for pilots.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “As Etihad continues to strengthen its position as a world-class airline it is vital that we have the equipment and technology in place to train our pilots to the very highest standards. The simulators are state-of-the-art in every way and because the onboard technology can be regularly upgraded, we will be able to use them for many years to come.”

The advanced databases installed on each Etihad simulator provide the pilots with the exact specifications and conditions for landing and take-off at every major airport in the world.

Furthermore, the databases for Abu Dhabi, Munich and London Heathrow airports have been customised to provide extensive details of the surrounding locality such as streets, buildings and rivers.

Richard Hill, Etihad Airways’ executive vice president operations, said: “These new simulators are an integral part of our initiative to develop and enhance our training standards. The additional flexibility afforded by their close proximity to our main operational base will also increase the efficiency of our training process.”

The simulators were recently officially opened by the Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, Ambassador Sara Hradecky, and senior representatives from Etihad Airways and Canadian manufacturers, CAE.

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Source: www.menareport.com