Baltic Aviation Academy launched Airbus A320 full flight simulator in Vilnius
On September 16th, 2011, Baltic Aviation Academy (BAA), a Type Rating Training Organization, launched Airbus A320 Full Flight Simulator in the aviation centre premises in Vilnius. It is the first Airbus A320 full flight simulator in the Baltic States. Before Airbus A320 installment to the academy’s headquarters, practical BAA’s A320 type rating trainings were executed in Southampton, England.
Airbus A320 launching ceremony, held at Baltic Aviation Academy on September 16th, was attended by over 100 representatives from airlines, governmental institutions, embassies as well as journalists from Western Europe, Japan, India, Russia, and CIS countries.
„The decision to relocate Airbus A320 to Vilnius is focused on leveraging the demand of Central, Eastern European and Russian aviation markets. Pilots’ from neighboring countries will be able to execute their trainings in a very close geographical location, Vilnius. Due to current pilots’ deficit in Russia and airlines Western aircraft types’ fleet expansion only, the relocation will increase BAA‘s operated A320 training hours by 25% per year”, said Egle Vaitkeviciute, CEO at Baltic Aviation Academy.
Baltic Aviation Academy operates 17 Full Flight Simulator network and it is its second FFS at headquarters premises in Vilnius, next to Boeing 737 full flight simulator installed in 2008. The simulator installment was carried out by partnership with CAE, Canadian company, accounting for around 75% of simulators manufacturing and around 50% aviation training market. By the recent BAA’s agreement with CAE, CAE has become the provider of choice for BAA full-flight simulator (FFS) additional requirements as well as training services for selected aircraft types.
Airbus A320 FFS in Vilnius is the result of Baltic Aviation Academy planned growth for 2011. During the first half of 2011 BAA numbers were doubled. More than 1500 aviation specialists studied at Baltic Aviation Academy spending 7000 hours in BAA operated full flight simulators network. Despite the economic downturn, BAA managed to stay focused on 2009-2014 plans on investment to infrastructure development and new training programs, acquiring new types of simulators, as well as development of unique business model.
Airbus A320 is one of the best-selling commercial airliners in aviation history. A320 is best known as the first airliner to introduce a “fly-by-wire” flight control system. To meet the A320 Family’s growing worldwide demand, Airbus will increase its output rate to 42 aircraft per month in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to 36 per month currently.
About Baltic Aviation Academy
More than 10,000 aviation professionals have been trained at the Baltic Aviation Academy. The aviation training centre carries out 34 training programs, including type rating training courses for Boeing 737 CL, Boeing 737 NG, Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, Saab 340/2000, Airbus A320, ATR 42-72, Bombardier CRJ 100/200, Bombardier CRJ 700/900, Embraer ERJ 135/145, Dash8Q-400 aircrafts and the initial pilot training school (FTO) courses. Course completion certificates issued by Baltic Aviation Academy are valid in the European Union, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Israel. Baltic Aviation Academy is part of the Lithuanian aviation company group Avia Solutions Group. Since March 2011, Avia Solutions Group has been listed on Warsaw Stock Exchange (ASG index).Source: Baltic Aviation Academy
