Emirates and CAE on Monday formally opened their pilot training facility at Dubai Silicon Oasis, or DSO, the world-class commercial park. The facility was inaugurated by the unveiling of a plaque by Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and CEO of the Emirates airline and group, at an event attended by Jeff Roberts, group president, Civil Simulation Products, Training and Services, CAE; Gary Chapman, president, Group Services, Emirates, customers and officials from around the world. The DSO centre is the second training centre owned and operated by the Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT). Completed last month in record time after a whole year in the planning construction phases, the centre brings Emirates and CAE’s joint investment in the region to over $260 million. The new DSO facility will initially house five full-flight simulator (FFS) training bays with three already installed, substantially increasing the region’s vital pilot and technician training capacity and providing much-needed support for its established and increasing group of airline customers. ECFT’s new 55,000 square foot facility already boasts industry-leading Airbus and Boeing flight training simulators with breakthrough visual realism, cockpit replication and high-fidelity avionics simulation with flight and ground-handling characteristics indistinguishable from an operational aircraft. The centre also features 10 briefing/de-briefing rooms, three large classrooms and a high-tech computer-based training room offering clients everything they need to prepare pilots and technicians for a safe career in the skies. Founded in 2002, ECFT’s early business was conducted from a satellite centre in the Dubai Airport Freezone, with just two full-flight training simulators. The business soon expanded with the opening of the current facility in a bespoke training centre adjacent to the Emirates Aviation College in Garhoud, Dubai. Today the Garhoud centre boasts some 13 training bays and is one of the largest pilot training facilities in the world. Source: Khaleej Times Online