Ardmore Flying School orders EuroJet PS4.5 from PACSIM

Auckland’s Ardmore Flying School is to become the first flight school in New Zealand with a jet flight training device after ordering a EuroJet PS4.5 (Airbus A320) simulator from Christchurch-based Pacific Simulators (PACSIM).

The order comes in response to an increasing number of international students enrolling at Ardmore Flying School, but the company hopes that using the new simulator to provide airline bridging and jet orientation training will attract even more cadets from overseas.

Ardmore Flying School’s CEO, Mike Newman, is excited about the arrival of the new EuroJet PS4.5. “We have been working with Pacific Simulators for a while now and our plans have finally come to fruition. Whilst it’s a big step for us, with the global demand for pilots showing no signs of abating and many airlines choosing New Zealand for training, we decided now is the right time.

“Asian airlines are particularly fond of the A320 and Air New Zealand have a fleet of 30 A320s with more on the way. It will be a terrific chance for pilots to complete their Ab Initio training and then progress onto the jet simulator, so they are prepared for the next step. In other words, they will be ‘airline ready’ when they leave our school.”

Iain Pero, Director of Sales and Marketing for PACSIM, explained, “Mike first saw one of our simulators over two years ago at a training conference in Bangkok. At that stage we had only just shifted our focus into the training market, so to now be in the position of supplying a new EuroJet to Ardmore is fantastic. Our first EuroJet was certified by the FAA in Miami last year and is predominantly being used for training Latin American students destined for airlines with Airbus fleets. To have one much closer to home is ideal for us.”