Thai Airways International Leases Boeing 777 Flight Simulator to Lauda Air

Thai Airways International recently signed an agreement to lease Boeing 777 Flight Simulator time to Lauda Air of Austrian Airlines Group for pilot training, which will take effect from September 2002 onwards.

According to Lauda Air Director for Aviation Training, Capt. Ing Hannes Windbrechtinger, Lauda Air decided to relocate its flight simulator training for B777 aircraft type from Europe to Thailand due to the excellent quality and technology of THAI simulators which are of high international standards. The expertise of THAI engineers was also an important part of the decision.

" We (Lauda Air) were satisfied after testing THAI's flight simulator, which we view as another plus for Thailand's aviation industry, adding to its geographical advantages and open sky policy", said Capt. Ing Hannes Windbrechtinger.

Currently, THAI offers flight simulator training for five types models of aircraft, namely B737-400, B777-400, B777-200/300, Airbus A330-200/300 and A300-600. These simulators are used for the training of THAI pilots as well as those of 37 customer airlines in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Lauda Air is the second largest airline in Austria and part of the Austrian Airlines Group which is a member of Star Alliance. It began flight operations between Austria and Thailand on May 8, 1988. Currently, it operates five weekly flights from Vienna to Bangkok, utilizing Boeing B777-200 and Boeing 767 aircraft.