Canadian flight-training provider Pacific Sky Aviation has earned certification for its Twin Otter training facility in Calgary from China’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAC).

The announcement, made this week at the Farnborough Air Show, comes after an extensive audit of Pacific Sky’s facility, curricula, Twin Otter training programs, equipment, and instructor qualifications. Based on the approval, the company now offers authorized type rating training in initial, recurrent, differences, upgrade, re-qualification, and proficiency checks, and can begin initial training courses for Chinese crews this month.

“Within our first year of operation of the Twin Otter Training Centre, we have achieved Transport Canada and EASA approvals of our Level D full-flight simulator and have been training customers from around the world,” said Pacific Sky CEO Michael Coughlin, adding his team is prepared to welcome the first Chinese crews. “The approval of the Twin Otter Training Centre by the CAAC is the final milestone in our efforts to provide type training for Chinese pilots and follows the CAAC technical approval of the Level D simulator we achieved in February.”

David Curtis, president of Viking Air, which reintroduced the turboprop twin in 2010, said the demand for the aircraft in China is “infinite,” particularly with respect to seaplanes. “With the help of Pacific Sky’s Twin Otter Series 400 training program, Level D simulator with seaplane capability, and now receipt of the CAAC Flight Training Centre certificate, we’re confident we’ll be able to meet the flight training demand for the emerging Chinese market,” he explained.