Lufthansa orders Jets for Pilot Training Programme

Lufthansa has decided is to use jets for its own pilot training programme and has placed an order with the US manufacturer Cessna for four Citation CJ1+ aircraft.

The decision to renew the airline’s training fleet paves the way for a new training concept that will be launched at the Lufthansa Pilot School in Bremen in January 2008. In future, the programme will be more closely tailored to the specific flight operation needs of a large scheduled airline with a global network.

“Our trainee pilots will thus have access to optimal training facilities that will enable them to make a seamless transition to an Airbus or Boeing cockpit,” explained Captain Jürgen Raps, Executive Vice President Operations, Lufthansa Passenger Airlines.

The aircraft are scheduled for delivery between October 2008 and mid-2009. The twin engine Cessna Citation CJ1+ has a top speed of 720 kilometres/hour (389 knots) and a range of 2,402 kilometres (1,297 nautical miles).

In the current year and in 2008, Lufthansa will be looking for up to 360 trainee pilots.

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