Charles Alcock is managing editor of the AIN Media Group, having rejoined the company in 2019. He has been an aviation journalist since 1986, and previously worked for AIN from 1990 to 2017, most recently as editor-in-chief. His main focus is on covering new aviation technology and business models, as well as international news.
Having been raised in the London area, Alcock studied at the University of Manchester in the UK and earned an honors degree in Politics and Modern History. He speaks English and French, and some German.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

CAE is expanding its flight training agreement with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) to support growth in the region. The expansion encompasses the commercial, business and helicopter aviation training collaboration between the two companies and also includes the sale of two full flight simulators and CAE instructor-led training. CAE in October had announced the simulator sale, but had not yet disclosed the customer.

 


Under the collaboration CAE and ADA will provide the training to operators in the region at ADA’s new facility in Abu Dhabi. The eight-bay center is expected to begin training in the first quarter of 2017.

 


The CAE 7000XR-series simulators, equipped with CAE Tropos 6000XR visual systems, will be ready for commercial pilot training in 2018. These will complement existing CAE simulators for the Leonardo AW139 and Bell 412 helicopters.

 


“CAE has been training our pilots and providing state-of-the-art training equipment for more than a decade and we are looking forward to this extended collaboration, for the support of our own and our customers’ growing training needs long into the future,” said ADA chairman H.E Nadir Al Hammadi.

 


NextGen Training

 


CAE is working on new training technology and processes that will provide objective performance assessments for pilots and their instructors. This should be available from the end of the first quarter of 2017.

 


“We are now beta testing an objective way to assess and grade performance and to allow instructors to accept or reject the performance of critical tasks,” explained Nick Leontidis, CAE’s group president of civil aviation training solutions. “The system identifies strengths and weaknesses, and also can measure performance against that of other operators. There is a lot going on in a typical training session, so this allows for something other than the instructor’s eyes to catch something.”

 


CAE (Stand 505) also has launched a new CAE Terminal customer portal that allows operators to manage their own training records and documentation. They can also reserve training sessions at any of the Canada-based company’s facilities and can take advantage of discounted rates for late availability.

 


Here in Dubai, CAE has two training facilities: the Emirates Aviation College, which is mainly focused on the business aviation sector, and a newer center for airlines in Silicon Oasis.

 


In November, TAG Aviation selected CAE as its training partner for multiple programs for its global fleet of heavy, midsize and light jets. This will include training for Gulfstream’s G650 aircraft to be provided in Dubai.

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