Boeing announced June 18 it has expanded its Flight Services business in China, greatly enhancing training capacity for airlines in the region.
With the introduction of an advanced 787 Dreamliner training suite for pilot and maintenance training, and a newly-installed 747-400 full-flight simulator, the company is tripling its offerings at the Boeing Flight Services Shanghai training campus. The new training devices join an existing 757/767 full-flight simulator at the facility.
“China is one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic aviation markets in the world, and Boeing is committed to giving the Chinese airlines the competitive advantage they need to succeed as they grow,” said Sherry Carbary, vice president, Boeing Flight Services. “Providing new, world-class resources and training focused on the region’s 787 and 747 fleets is one way we can bring the Boeing Edge to China.”
The Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook projects the largest demand for global pilots and maintenance technicians will be in the Asia Pacific region. China’s expected requirement leads the region’s demand with a need for 72,000 new commercial airline pilots and more than 108,000 maintenance technicians over the next 20 years.
“As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Boeing in China, this is another important step forward in our long-term commitment to serving China’s development of the air transport system,” said Marc Allen, president of Boeing China. “There is a real need for more pilots in the region, and the expansion of the Boeing training campus in Shanghai is geared to help meet that need.”
Chinese customers are already benefiting from the new Boeing training capacity in Shanghai. Crews from Yangtze River Express, Air China and China Cargo have completed 747-400 training. Several crews from Hainan Airlines have completed 787 pilot training.
“Boeing not only produces amazing airplanes, but also delivers innovative services and support throughout the lifecycle of the customer fleet,” said Ihssane Mounir, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Greater China and Korea, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “With the expanded capability at the Boeing Flight Services Shanghai training campus, we will be able to quickly and efficiently provide our services to our customers in China and the Asia-Pacific region.”
