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

Canada’s Esterline CAE (Stand 1632) is to supply Boeing 787 and 777 full-flight simulators and training devices to Saudi Arabian Airlines’s Prince Sultan Aviation Academy under a contract signed here at the Dubai Airshow on Monday.

 


The 777 full-flight simulator is a CAE 7000XR unit and the package for the 787 includes a CAE 7000. CAE500XR training devices for both aircraft will also be delivered and installed in 2016 as part of a complete training suite at the academy in Jeddah.

 


“We are delighted to have CAE as our long-standing training solutions partner of choice,” said Capt. Badr Alolayan, managing director of the Prince Sultan Aviation Academy. “We are confident that CAE will continue to provide state-of-the-art training equipment to support crews training in the region.” He signed the contract at the show with Nick Leontidis, CAE group president for civil aviation training solutions.

 


The academy, already trains Saudia pilots for the 777-200 and 747-400 widebodes, as well as for the Embraer E-170 and Airbus A320-200.

 


Gulf Aviation Academy

 


Separately, the Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA) launched a new partnership with CAE to offer Embraer E-170/190 training in Europe. CAE will relocate the academy’s full flight simulator and flight training device from Bahrain to the manufacturer’s own training center in Amsterdam. This facility already houses a full flight simulator for the E-170/190, as well as training devices for the Fokker 50 and 70/100 aircraft, as well as for the ATR 42/72 models, the A300 and 737. GAA will continue to provide A320 and A330 training in Bahrain.

 


“We are excited about this agreement with CAE which allows us to offer quality training solutions to our existing client airlines as well as airlines in Europe where demand for Embraer 170/190 training is currently higher than in the Middle East,” said Captain Dhaffer Al Abbasi, GAA’s chief executive Officer.

 


Also here in Dubai this week, Emirates-CAE Flight Training signed a five-year business aviation training agreement with Jordan-based charter operators Arab Wings. The agreement will now cover 11 different aircraft types.

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2015 Dubai Airshow

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