SriLankan Flight Academy Opens

Aircraft flying training enters a new dimension in Sri Lanka, with the opening of SriLankan Airlines’ Flight Academy, with its first Airbus A320 full flight simulator, located in the Bandaranaike International Airport BIA), offering a total flying experience on ground, to facilitate training for pilots not only in Sri Lanka but in the region of South Asia.

The President, Mahinda Rajapaksa declared open the facility on 20th October, 2011 continuing his visionary drive towards the target in turning Sri Lanka into a regional hub for knowledge and education, envisioned. Joining the President was the Ambassador of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka, SriLankan Airlines’ Board of Directors, the Management team and staff, in support of developing an Aviation Training & Knowledge hub in Sri Lanka.

The Airbus A320 Simulator will be able to provide the required flying training for SriLankan cadet pilots, First Officers and Captains as well as provide training time to guest pilots from other airlines in the region. The Simulator will work in four hourly slots, 24-hours a day making excess time available for guest pilots from the region to undergo training. The simulator is 'Level D' standard, the highest level of certification which makes it identical to that of an aircraft. The simulator delivers unsurpassed realism, user friendliness, safety, reliability and performance.

Whilst saving time, energy and money, it enables a total flying experience on ground, qualifying the pilots to take on a direct ‘Simulator to aircraft’ capability. The second phase of the academy will see the installation of a Airbus A330 Simulator, by early 2013 which will further widen the scope of the training facility at BIA. The Academy will also include all other support services within a purpose-built three story construction.