L3 Invests Big in London Training Center

L3 announced is investing $100 million in its London Training Center, scheduled to open early next year at Gatwick Airport. “This investment reflects our confidence in the growth and opportunities available in the commercial aviation sector and the need to train new airline pilots across the world,” said Christopher Kubasik, chairman, president, and CEO of the U.S.-based company.

Airlines already scheduling pilot training sessions at the center include EasyJet, WOW air, Norwegian, and TUI. When fully operational, the center will house eight L3 RealitySeven full flight simulators, four high-fidelity L3 flight training devices, eight flat-panel trainers, eight classrooms/briefing rooms, and a manufacturing facility that is expected to produce 30 full flight simulators per year.

The center is designed to meet increasing airline customer demand and to help address the worldwide shortage of commercial pilots, according to L3. In addition, it will add more than 350 jobs to the region. “response from customers keen to train their pilots in our state-of-the-art environment has been incredible,” said Robin Glover-Fauve, president of Commercial Training Solutions, a unit of L3 Commercial Aviation.