FLYBE SELECTS PROVIDER FOR NEW TRAINING ACADEMY FLIGHT SIMULATORS

Europe’s leading regional airline announces simulators will soon wing in from New York

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline and the UK’s Number One Domestic carrier, has confirmed that it has selected US-based FlightSafety International to provide two state-of-the-art full flight simulators for its new Training Academy, namely for the Bombardier Q400 and Embraer E-Jet 170/190 aircraft, the Q400 sim being the first to arrive next month.

The simulators will be situated at the new Flybe Training Academy located at Exeter International Airport and will be equipped with FlightSafety’s industry leading VITAL X Visual System and electric motion and control loading technology. They will not only be used to train Flybe’s own pilots but, in a cooperative marketing agreement, also provide other Q400 and E-Jet operators with the opportunity to purchase surplus simulator hours on site. Prior to the E-Jet sim being installed in early 2012, FlightSafety will be providing Flybe with Embraer 170/190 training services at its facilities in Amsterdam and at Paris Le Bourget airport.

Andrew Strong, Flybe’s Chief Operating Officer says; The high quality simulation equipment, exceptional support and outstanding value FlightSafety provides made them the best choice for our Training Academy. Our pilots, and those from the other operators we support, will appreciate the quality, reliability and scheduling flexibility these new simulators will offer.

Adds Eric Hinson, Executive Vice President at FlightSafety International; We are pleased that Flybe has selected FlightSafety to provide the Bombardier Q400 and Embraer E-Jet aircraft simulators for their Academy in Exeter. Having served Flybe for over 13 years, we recognise and appreciate their commitment to enhancing aviation safety through professional training, using comprehensive training programmes and state-of-the art equipment.

The new Flybe Training Academy will offer a wide range of Pilot, Technical, Cabin Crew, Customer Service and Aviation Support courses to airlines across the world, as well as a range of non-aviation training to other individuals and organisations. Apart from the flight simulator complex, it will incorporate Cabin Door trainers, 25 purpose-built classrooms and an integrated Apprentice workshop that will allow Flybe to offer an increased range of training to third party customers.

ENDS

For further press information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Flybe press office:
T: 0845 675 0681 E: pressoffice@flybe.com

About Flybe
·         Flybe Europe’s largest and most successful regional airline with 215 routes serving 13 countries, operating from a total of 73 departure points, 39 UK and 34 European airports* (all routes on sale April-Sep 10)
·         Flybe is the UK’s Number One Domestic Airline – carrying more UK domestic passengers than any other airline; carrying more domestic passengers at London Gatwick than any other airline and operating over four times more domestic routes than any other airline* (CAA statistics  Dec 09-Nov10)
·         Flybe was named Europe’s number one regional airline and the World’s Number One Independent Regional Operator in the 2009 Airline Business Regional Rankings and is the only UK carrier to feature in the prestigious US-published Forbes magazine Top 10 on time arrival list of Global Major Carriers 2009
·         Flybe won both Best Short-Haul Airline and Best Environmental accolades at the 2010 Business Travel Awards. Other recent awards include: Air Transport World’s 2009 Regional Airline of the Year; Aviation Week’s Overhaul & Maintenance (O&M) European Airline MRO of the Year (Flybe’s aircraft maintenance division) and the Most Environmentally and Socially Responsible Budget Airline Award at The British Travel Awards 2009 for the second year running.
·         Flybe’s codeshare agreement with Air France gives Flybe passengers access to five additional routes between the UK and France, nine new domestic French routes and 12 international routes. Air France codeshare customers have gained access to 43 new routes from France to the UK and seamless connections through Birmingham, Manchester and Southampton to 17 UK domestic routes.
·         Flybe placed a multi-billion dollar order with Embraer in July 2010 for up to 140 Embraer 175 and E-family aircraft, with the first delivery scheduled for 2011.
·         Flybe is the largest scheduled airline, measured by air traffic movements, at Belfast City, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Inverness, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Manchester, Manston, Norwich and Southampton airports (CAA statistics Nov10)
·         Flybe’s Training Academy in Exeter, costing £11.9-million to construct, is scheduled for completion during Spring 2011. ·         Flybe launched the aviation industry’s first ever eco labelling scheme in 2007·
·         Flybe offers the UK’s first low cost customer loyalty scheme open to all passengers Rewards4all
·         Flybe signed a landmark franchise Agreement with Loganair, the Scottish regional airline, in January 2008 the first of its kind ever for a low cost carrier

• Flown under the Flybe brand, of which 26 routes, 10 airports and one country are exclusively served by Flybe’s franchise partner, Loganair.

FlightSafety International

Headquartered at La Guardia Airport, New York, FlightSafety International is the world’s premier professional aviation training company and supplier of flight simulators, visual systems and displays to commercial, government and military organizations. The company provides more than a million hours of training each year to pilots, technicians and other aviation professionals from 154 countries and independent territories. FlightSafety operates the world’s largest fleet of advanced full flight simulators at Learning Centers and training locations in Asia, Europe, North and South America, the Pacific Rim and South Africa.