Seeing strong demand for the 737 Max in the Asia Pacific region, Boeing has commissioned its first 737 Max 8 full flight simulator at the Boeing Training & Professional Services in Singapore. Certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the European Aviation Safety Agency, the new equipment joins two 737NG machines, two 787-8 units and a 777-300 simulator already in service. Boeing has also revealed that it plans to install a 787-9 simulator in time for operation by November this year.

Boeing installed the 737 Max simulator in March and has begun accepting customers. Patrick Curtin, senior manager of campus operations, revealed that Singapore’s Silkair has signed on as one of the main clients for the 737 Max simulator. Fiji Airways is another client of the type.

Silkair has ordered 31 Max 8s and expects first delivery before October 5, as it plans to launch its first commercial flight to Kuala Lumpur. Fiji Airways holds an order for five Max 8s, and plans call for deliveries to begin next year.

The region will see at least 15 operators of the 737 Max, including launch customer Lion Air Group, Garuda Indonesia and Vietjet Air.

Boeing estimates a 20-year requirement in the region for 253,000 new pilots, most of which airlines will need to fly single-aisle airliners.

The company has also introduced its new interactive classrooms for the 737 Max to Singapore. The concept uses two 3-D interactive flight decks to train pilots on fundamental topics and crew resource management coordination. Studies have shown that such training methods increase passing rates and retention levels, but Boeing expects to get better specifics and numbers from the campus in Singapore. Boeing also hopes to implement the model for other aircraft types in the near future.

The Singapore campus plans to organize a series of visits for five to six airlines from the region that are either 737 Max clients or potential clients.

Plans call for Shanghai to become the second Boeing training campus in Asia to operate the 737 Max simulator and the new training model and at press time stands ready to accept applicants.(source: ainonline.com)