Story ID: 1143SimCom.doc
SimCom Assimilating Former FlightSafety Simulators
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: SimCom Flight Centers has been busy relocating, refurbishing and returning these devices to service at its Dallas and Orlando training centers.
Word Count: 462
Since it acquired 14 simulators from FlightSafety International on August 17, SimCom Flight Centers has been busy relocating, refurbishing and returning these devices to service at its Dallas and Orlando training centers. Once all of these newly obtained sims are up and running, SimCom will have 59 simulators in total at its four training center locations.
“We are really pleased with the efficiency and timeliness of returning these simulators to service,” said SimCom founder and CEO Wally David. “We have a number of former FlightSafety customers depending on us to be ready in a timely manner so their training schedules can be maintained. We are certain those customers and pilots will like what they see when they come to SimCom for their next training event.”
The list of devices and programs acquired by SimCom includes the King Air 90B and B200; Cessna 210, 421C, 425 and Conquest I and II; Piper Navajo and Cheyenne I/II and III; turboprop Twin Commander 690A and 1000; Beechcraft Baron 58; and Saab 2000. The simulators range from advanced flight training devices for the piston-powered models to level-B full-motion simulators for the turboprops. Transfer of the simulators and courseware from FlightSafety to SimCom began immediately after the deal was finalized and is expected to be completed by year-end.
The majority of the acquired equipment was located at FlightSafety’s learning center in Lakeland, Fla. FlightSafety said this facility will be closed once the simulators are removed. FlightSafety offered the 25 employees at the Lakeland facility jobs at its other locations.
The eight Twin Commander, Cessna and Cheyenne III simulators and training programs will be relocated to SimCom’s training facility in Dallas. The remaining King Air, Cheyenne I/II, Navajo, Beech Baron and Saab 2000 simulators and training programs will be positioned in the company’s Orlando center.
“We are very excited to be adding additional simulators and training capabilities,” said David. “Even though we have tended to add Level C and D full-motion jet simulators over the past few years, we will always consider turboprop and piston pilots to be a very important part of our business.  We are confident these aircraft and their operators will continue to play a major role in the future of general aviation. In fact, many of our customers tell us they are flying turboprops and pistons more than ever due to their utility and cost of operation.”
SimCom’s move continues a string of growth by acquisitions that started in 2008 after the economic downturn began, David told AIN at NBAA 2011 in Las Vegas. “We believe in the general aviation market, and we foresaw good buying opportunities in a down market,” he said. In fact, earlier this year SimCom bought PrestoSim’s entire operation in Dallas.