Eyeing surging demand for additional pilots in Asia, training specialist CAE is furthering its presence in the region with plans for additional centers in Bangkok, Thailand, and near New Delhi, India, the company announced this week at the Asia Pacific Airline Training Summit (APATS) in Singapore. “Asia is set to have the strongest demand for pilots over the next two decades,” said CAE’s group president Nick Leontidis, adding the plans are designed to meet training needs locally.
Located near Don Mueang International Airport, the Bangkok facility will support Thai AirAsia’s growth as part of an ongoing long-term agreement it has with the carrier. In addition, the center will provide training for third-party regional airline operators.
Plans initially call for the installation of two CAE 7000XR Series Airbus A320 full-flight simulators equipped with the CAE Tropos 6000XR visual system. To open in 2020, subject to regulatory approvals, the center will have space for up to six simulators.
In India, CAE is opening a training center in Gurugram, National Capital Region (NCR) through a joint venture with InterGlobe enterprises. The CAE New Delhi Gurugram—CAE Simulation Training Private Limited (CSTPL) training center will be based near the Indira Gandhi International Airport to provide a local base for airline customers and regional third-party operators. Also to open in 2020, the center will be equipped initially with two of the CAE 7000XR Series Airbus A320 full-flight simulators.
The centers come as Boeing’s latest forecast predicts a requirement for 266,000 new pilots in the Asia-Pacific region over the next 20 years. While China is to account for the largest share of that demand with a need for 124,000 pilots, South Asia will need 41,000 pilots and Southeast Asia 49,000 pilots through 2038, Boeing forecast. Boeing further believes Asia Pacific as a whole will account for 40 percent of the demand for new airplanes over the same period.