Flight simulator puts Victorian aviation on the map
Victoria's position as a leader in aviation training has been reaffirmed with the opening of a new aircraft simulator.
Aviation Minister Gordon Rich-Phillips gets ready to fly CAE's new Beechcraft King Air flight simulator.
Aviation Minister Gordon Rich-Phillips welcomed the commissioning of the new Hawker Beechcraft King Air B350 simulator earlier this week.
The simulator is owned and operated by CAE training, a leader in global civil aviation and defence training, and is based at the Ansett Aviation Training facility in Tullamarine.
"CAE's decision to base the simulator here reinforces Victoria's reputation as the Australian leader in aviation training," Mr Rich-Phillips said.
"Melbourne has Australia's highest concentration of aviation and aerospace education and training facilities.
"This simulator is the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific region and represents a significant milestone for our local aviation industry.
"Instead of having to travel to the United States, pilots working in defence and emergency services will now be able to train at home.
"About 25 operators across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, including the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Flying Doctors Service, have expressed interest in using the simulator," Mr Rich-Phillips said.
Mr Rich-Phillips said the King Air sat alongside 11 other full flight simulators including two Airbus A320s, a Boeing 737 and a Fokker F100 and a cabin trainer used by the major airlines to train cabin crew.
"The King Air B350 simulator will create new jobs and provide further security to existing maintenance teams at the Ansett Aviation Training facility," Mr Rich-Phillips said.
"The economic benefits of the centre will help strengthen Victoria's growing aviation industry which contributes more than $1 billion to the state's economy annually.
"The Victorian Coalition Government will continue to work with aviation training providers to strengthen the local industry and improve access to the latest aviation technology," Mr Rich-Phillips said.
