PRINCE Sultan Aviation Academy (PSAA) has launched cabin door training device and cockpit door simulation training device for Dreamliner (B787-9) Boeing aircraft. Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) is expected to take delivery of the first aircraft of this type on Feb. 1, and the delivery of the whole eight aircraft will be made before the end of 2017, a Saudia press statement said. This is part of the Academy's continuous efforts to make available the best training devices and modernizing equipment to keep pace with the operational requirements in line with the transformation plan and program (SV2020), which is being implemented by Saudia as well as by its affiliated companies and strategic units. PSAA is a college for aviation sciences located in Jeddah. It is the official flight school of Saudia. The Academy has been prepared to receive 3,000 pilot trainees to pursue aviation courses over the period of five years, and this was in line with an agreement signed with the Ministry of Education. They will be trained on the moving and stationary simulators after completion of their aviation studies abroad. Capt. Badr Al-Olayyan, chairman of the strategic unit at PSAA, said the Academy took delivery of the devices and their installations were made by a specialized company. This was after obtaining license from the General Authority of Civil Aviation to use it as an approved training device on B787-9 aircraft and other flights which have similar cockpit door simulators. The training for the cabin crew will be limited to opening and closing of the aircraft doors and handling them during emergency situations. Al-Olayyan said the Academy is striving to keep pace with the latest developments in cockpit crew and cabin crew training, and the plan keeps pace with the new strategy of Saudia and its ambitious transformation program. "Modernizing the technical base of the Academy is being carried out so as to maintain its standard at par with the global aviation training centers. Apart from the newly launched simulator, the Academy owns and operates a number of similar simulators for the aircraft in the models of B747-400, A340, A330, B777-200, A320-200 and EMB-170. PSAA is considered as the major aviation center to train and qualify cockpit and cabin crew as well as technicians for all aviation companies around the world. It also carries out designing and developing qualitative and innovative training programs in aviation sciences.
