Virgin atlantic flight training

[CX256]

Hi

Does Virgin atlantic have there own simulators for there pilot training if not where do they go for this.

Thanks

CX256

[scroggs]

Virgin Atlantic do not own any simulators. For the A340, we use simulators at Lufthansa in Frankfurt, Gecat Gatwick and BMI/Gecat Heathrow. The B744 use the BA sims at Cranebank.

Scroggs

[CX256]

Hi Scroggs

Thanks for your reply. How long do you spend in a simulator and how othen is it just before you fly to a airport you never been to before.

CX256

[Evvy]

Hi,

Virgin do not own any simulators now.

For A340-600 they use the sims at Toulouse although in 2006 simulator training will be done in Burgess Hill.

The Burgess Hill CAE training centre will also be expanded to accomodate a B747-400 sim that Virgin will use.

All A380 training will be conducted at Toulouse.

[Danny]

PRESS RELEASE:CAE signs 10-year training services contract with Virgin Atlantic

Montreal, August 31, 2005 – (NYSE: CGT; TSX: CAE) – CAE has signed a 10-year agreement with UK-based Virgin Atlantic Airways to provide training for pilots of the carrier’s entire fleet of Airbus A340-600 and Boeing 747-400 aircraft. Initially valued at £28 million (C$60 million), the contract also includes an option for Airbus A380 training. If all options were to be exercised, the total contract value could amount to £43 million (C$92 million) over 10 years.

The training, which includes instructional delivery for ground school as well as simulator training, will take place at CAE’s Burgess Hill, U.K., training centre. Existing A340-600 and B747-400 simulators will be redeployed from within CAE’s global training network to Burgess Hill by summer of 2006 for this purpose.

“CAE is proud to have been selected by Virgin Atlantic as its training partner. This is another major milestone for our growing UK Training Operations,” said Jeff Roberts, CAE’s Group President, Civil Training and Services. “We welcome Virgin Atlantic to the group of carriers to whom we offer training services in our 22 training centres around the world.”

The Burgess Hill training centre is part of the Airbus-CAE cooperation, which combines CAE's and Airbus's training expertise to provide increased access to training to customers around the globe. Established in 2002, the Airbus-CAE cooperation operates the largest fleet of Airbus full-flight simulators in the world.

Virgin Atlantic Airways operates long haul services to 26 destinations world-wide as far apart as Las Vegas and Shanghai. Virgin Atlantic currently has a fleet of 32 aircraft which includes thirteen 747s, nine A340-300s, and ten A340-600s.

CAE is a leading provider of simulation and modelling technologies as well as integrated training services for commercial and business aviation, and defence customers worldwide. The company has annual revenues of approximately C$1 billion, with operations and training facilities in 17 countries on five continents.