PACSIM increases footprint in Latin America
Pacific Simulators has increased its reach into Latin America with another sale, this time to a new
simulator centre opening in Buenos Aires, Argentina later this year. The CEA training center will be
the first in Argentina to provide fixed base Flight Training Devices (FTD’s) to pilots heading to the
expanding airline market in Argentina and surrounding countries.
Earlier this year Pacific Simulators received an order from Bolivian Airlines (BOA) and installation is
now in progress. The ProJet PS4.5 FTD is a fixed‐base, fully enclosed device modelled on a modern
narrow‐body, jet airliner. It is ideal for training students and qualified pilots with their sights set on
flying either the Boeing 737 or the Airbus A320.
Its fully enclosed cockpit includes accurate representation and functionality of aircraft panels,
systems, avionics and controls such as Glass Cockpit Displays, Flight Management Computers
(FMCs), Autopilot Flight Director System (AFDS), TCAS and GPWS.
Pacific Simulators, based in Christchurch, New Zealand has been building FTD’s for over 15 years,
but has only recently aimed their sights on the airline training market. Pacific Simulators Sales
Director, Iain Pero says, “Our traditional training market has been flight schools and universities
but over the last couple of years we have seen a surge in enquiry and demand from airlines, Type
Rating Training Organisations (TRTO’s) and sim centres”.
“Due to the global pilot shortage, the cadets and new hires are getting younger and the airlines
are finding they need to perform more simulator training, however, Full Flight Simulators (FFS) are
running at capacity and the costs can be prohibitive. Our FTD’s fit perfectly in that niche to
provide cost‐effective, high quality training and also off‐load time from the FFS’s”.
CEA inspected a number of products available in the market and decided on Pacific Simulators.
CEA’s Director Captain Federico Maradei: “The simulator center is a new venture for us, but we
have extensive experience in aviation training and we definitely see the demand exceeding
supply. The ProJet FTD will fill the gap and provide better trained pilots at a lower cost. Everybody
wins!”