Today Air Astana commissioned its new Flight Training Centre which may become a regional resource for Central Asia airlines.

As commercial aviation rapidly recovers from the pandemic finding the skilled and experienced professionals to run an airline is holding many carriers back from launching their full capacity. The last few years have shown that in-house recruitment and training is a solid form of insurance to overcome skill shortages, particularly for pilots and cabin crew.

Time to do training in-house

One airline taking the training bit between its teeth is Kazakhstan’s Air Astana, which today officially commissioned a new Flight Training Centre at Astana International Airport. The new state-of-the-art flight training facility is equipped with the latest generation flight simulator from L3Harris and is the first in Central Asia to be certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Photo: Air Astana

While the training center is designed primarily to train Air Astana and FlyArystan pilots, President and CEO of the Air Astana Group, Peter Foster, is already eyeing opportunities beyond Kazakhstan’s borders. Today, he said:

“The opening of Air Astana’s new Flight Training Centre demonstrates a strategic commitment to ensuring the very highest standards of flight personnel performance and also enhance the steady flow of new entrants into Kazakhstan’s air transport industry as it grows in the future. I am confident that the new facility will not only prove to be a highly cost-effective resource for Air Astana but also result in Kazakhstan becoming a regional leader in flight training.”

The facility has an L3Harris RealitySeven full-flight simulator that can simulate up to six levels of motion and, with realistic cockpit sounds, presents a high degree of realism to the pilot. The simulator is calibrated using accumulated flight data, guaranteeing that the aerodynamics, flight control and ground handling characteristics reflect reality.

Photo: Air Astana

The simulator is the first one to enter service with Air Astana and the first to be installed in Kazakhstan. Apart from the training benefits of such a new piece of technology, the flight center also means that pilots who previously undertook training overseas can now achieve their proficiencies at the airline’s main base in Kazakstan. To meet the high demand the training center will operate on a 24/7 basis and is expected to take in more than 500 pilots from the Air Astana Group.

Photo: Embraer

It’s not surprising that the new simulator is facing such a heavy load as the Air Astana Group has close to 50 aircraft in its fleet. According to Planespotters.net, Air Astana has a fleet of 29, including five Airbus A320-200s, 16 A321neos, three Boeing 767-300s and five Embraer E190-E2 jets. The same source lists FlyArystran’s fleet containing 11 Airbus A320-200s and six A320neos.

Not just pilots

Air Astana is also installing a Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer (CEET) and a Real Fire Fighting Trainer (RFFT) in the Flight Training Centre, with both to be operational by the end of this year. The CEET creates realistic training solutions for cabin crew to gain proficiency in door operations for various aircraft types, fire and smoke training, emergency procedures and equipment and cabin crew communications.

A Real Fire Fighting Trainer is an automatic computerized fire training simulator that provides training with real fire and has artificial smoke for training scenarios, generating realism in training exercises. The design can be customized and is based on an actual aircraft layout, with an Instructor Operator Panel controlling all the different fire scenarios, smoke, lights and other inputs.

Source: Simple Flying

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Air Koryo flight from Pyongyang cancelled two hours after its scheduled arrival in Beijing

North Korea’s national airline’s first commercial flight since it largely closed itself off from the world in early 2020 in response to the Covid pandemic has been abruptly cancelled.

Journalists gathered on Monday at Beijing’s Capital international airport to await Air Koryo flight JS151 from Pyongyang, due to arrive at 9.50am.

But almost two hours after its scheduled arrival, the arrivals board in the terminal showed it as cancelled, prompting groans of disappointment from media waiting to see some of the isolated country’s first international travellers in years.

Beijing airport customer service told AFP that Air Koryo, Pyongyang’s national air carrier, had not given a reason for the cancellation.

Asked about the cancellation, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson said only that it had approved restarting commercial flights between Beijing and Pyongyang.

“During the summer and autumn flight season … the Chinese side approved flight plans for passengers such as the Pyongyang-Beijing and Beijing-Pyongyang routes of Air Koryo,” Wang Wenbin told a regular briefing.

AFP reporters who knocked on the bolted glass doors of Air Koryo’s Beijing office on Monday afternoon startled a man dozing on the sofa in the darkened room.

A second man who opened the door responded to AFP’s questions by repeatedly saying: “We don’t know.”

He referred reporters to the North Korean ruling party newspaper the Rodong Sinmun for “accurate” information, as a third man slipped inside, his shirt bearing a badge with portraits of the country’s two former leaders.

After three years of Covid-induced isolation as it closed its borders, there are increasing signs Pyongyang may be becoming more flexible.

Chinese and Russian officials attended a military parade in the North Korean capital last month – the first foreign dignitaries to visit the country in years. Last week Pyongyang allowed a delegation of athletes to attend a taekwondo competition in Kazakhstan.

The Yonhap and Kyodo news agencies reported that a group of people, believed to be North Korean athletes, had crossed the land border into China last Wednesday before travelling on to Beijing, then flying to Central Asia.

Air Koryo was to conduct its first commercial flight in over three years. Seoul’s unification ministry, which manages relations with North Korea, told AFP there was “absolutely nothing we are aware of” regarding the cancellation of the flight.

“There have been various signs regarding North Korea’s reopening of its borders,” an official said. “But it is difficult to determine yet whether it is a full-scale opening of the border or a fairly limited and controlled opening,” they added.

NK News reported on Monday that Air Koryo was due to carry out two flights from Russia’s Vladivostok to Pyongyang on Friday and next Monday.

Source: The Guardian

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A celebration was held at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to mark Air Canada’s inaugural flight AC65, “We are thrilled to launch Air Canada’s first non-stop service to Southeast Asia and the only non-stop flights between North America and Thailand
Bangkok is also one of the most visited destinations globally, and we have optimized connections to and from our trans-pacific hub at YVR to give customers convenient travel options to explore this exciting city renowned for its history, cuisine and culture, or to conduct international business trade. This new service from YVR is another step in our ambition to develop this hub into one of the most important trans-pacific gateways in North America. We look forward to welcoming our customers onboard,” said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President – Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada.

“Improving access between countries is crucial to a successful Canadian aviation sector. These flights will allow more travellers to get to their destinations, and will promote growth and prosperity for both Canadian and Thailand’s travel industries,” said The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport – Government of Canada.

“We are thrilled that Air Canada continues to grow its transpacific hub at YVR with the introduction of their new route to Bangkok — the only direct service from North America to Thailand,” said Tamara Vrooman, President & CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. “This new service will provide passengers with incredible tourism options and a broad range of business opportunities in the region. And here in British Columbia this new route will generate $2.8 million in tourism spend and $1.5 million in GDP.”

“We are excited to support Air Canada as our country’s flag carrier launches its new international service connecting Vancouver and Bangkok, the only direct flight between North America and Thailand,” said Jeff Nankivell, President and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. “This new route comes at an exciting time. As the Government of Canada rolls out its ambitious new Indo-Pacific strategy for heightened engagement with the people and economies of this dynamic region, Southeast Asia has been identified as playing a central role in Canada’s plans to step up its game in Asia over the next decade, and beyond.”

International Service Highlights
At YVR, Air Canada’s Signature Suite is available to eligible customers, offering a private, premium experience prior to departure. Air Canada Chauffeur Service is offered, where eligible connecting International Air Canada Signature Class customers arriving from within Canada will be met by a Concierge before being whisked away on the tarmac in a hybrid or electric Porsche vehicle to the distinctive Air Canada Signature Suite. Chauffeur Service offers an unsurpassed airport Premium experience in Canada for International Air Canada Signature Class customers connecting through Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International Airports.

Air Canada has elevated its International Economy Class dining experience to reflect Canada’s culinary talent and tastes from our global network of destinations. Economy Class dining on all international flights departing Canada is being revamped to feature a hot entree created for Air Canada by renowned Montreal Chef Jérôme Ferrer, a member of Air Canada’s culinary panel. An additional appetizer reflecting destination cuisine is also being presented with all meals, and a separate dessert service will follow.

Air Canada Signature Class features culinary creations by award-winning Vancouver-based Chef David Hawksworth, which are complemented by a selection of top wines chosen by leading Canadian sommelier, Véronique Rivest.

Air Canada Signature Class customers will be presented with amenity kits in partnership with Acqua Di Parma featuring stylish amenity bags containing Acqua Di Parma luxury skincare products plus an oversized eye mask, socks, dental products and 3M earplugs for additional comfort and personal care.

Customers in International Premium Economy Class will enjoy reusable amenity totes containing an eye mask, socks and dental products providing for a more refreshed journey.

All customers have the opportunity to collect and redeem Aeroplan points when travelling with Air Canada, and eligible customers have access to priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounges, priority boarding and other benefits.

Source : BreakingTravelNews

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