Nok and ANA open training centre

BANGKOK Nok Air will partner with Japan’s ANA Holdings to set up an international flight training centre, Pam Am Thailand, this September.
The world-class pilot training centre will open with an A320 simulator, with plans to expand to a total of four simulators – two A320s and two Boeing 737NGs.
The first Boeing 737NG simulator will be ready January 2015, followed by the second in April 2015.
This joint venture forms a strong partnership between Nok Air, ANA Holdings and Assumption University, the first international Thai university to set up a new flight training department for students who have no flight experience.
According to ICAO’s global and regional 20-year forecasts, by 2030 approximately 230,000 pilots will be required, which is 4.5 times more than current pilot numbers.
Nok Air CEO, Patee Sarasin, said Southeast Asia’s aviation market is rapidly expanding and there is a need for highly trained flight crews.
“The Pan Am Thailand will position Thailand as a prime training ground providing high quality training for pilots.”
He added: “For Nok Air, the joint venture means that we are able to cut our pilot training costs by 50% by providing world-class flight simulator training in Thailand.”
The flight training centre marks the first step in a partnership between Nok Air and ANA Holdings.
The joint venture will benefit both Nok Air and ANA Holdings, which already has Pan Am flight academy operations in North and South America, acquired in August 2013.

sourced:ttrweekly.com