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De Havilland Dash 8 Q400 full flight simulator in Nairobi set to boost training and safety in Afric

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De Havilland Dash 8 Q400 full flight simulator in Nairobi set to boost training and safety in Africa

  • Kenya Airways & FlightSafety international partner to setup the first state of the art Dash 8 Q400 flight simulator in Kenya
  • Safety and quality training is key to growth of Africa's robust airline industry

Kenya Airways (NSE:KQ) together with its subsidiary Jambojet and FlightSafety international (FSI) have today signed a tripartite agreement that will see FSI provide a Dash 8 Q400 simulator to support training of their cockpit crew and maintenance teams. FSI's flight simulator will be housed at the Kenya Airways Pride Center. It is expected to improve availability and quality training to Jambojet pilots as well as other Q400 operators in Africa.

"The number of Q400s in Africa is growing, with a limited number of simulators to support the training. The estimated number of Q400 aircraft in Africa is over a hundred (100) being served by only three (3) simulators. The agreement is a step forward in building the capacity of our training programs and cementing our focus on safety and quality" commented Sebastian Mikosz, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Airways.

FlightSafety international is the leading provider of Q400 simulators that provide real life flying scenarios. They deliver world-class aviation training services for pilots, technicians, flight attendants and dispatchers, with a compelling mix of resources designed to and reflecting the advanced equipment used in today's aircraft.

"We have a large footprint across the globe and we are excited about having our second partnership in Africa. It is an excellent opportunity for us to extend our expertise in the region as we continue facilitating training through provision of high quality simulators. Having a local solution will allow the operators to train more often and reduce their overall training costs" said Patrick Coulter, Director - Business Development, Commercial Training and Simulation at FSI.

Kenya Airways and Jambojet are looking forward to leveraging on FSI's wealth of experience to continue improving safety in Africa's aviation.

Jambojet which in 2019 marked five (5) years since inception currently operates a fleet of five (5) Q400 aircrafts and this is expected to grow to eight (8) in 2019 and fifteen (15) by 2021 as part of its fleet expansion strategy.

Allan Kilavuka, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jambojet noted that Africa's airspace remains vibrant and with the advancement in technology, relevant support is required to ensure efficiency and guarantee safety to remain competitive. "As the anchor user, we are glad to be in partnership with an organization with similar commitment to safety and we will rely on their knowledge and skill which will help to enhance our continued focus on safety and reliability. We are expecting 4 additional aircraft this year and the Q400 simulator that is easily accessible will be critical in up skilling the new and existing pilots." said Mr. Kilavuka.

KQ is currently working towards financial turnaround with a focus on prudential financial management, network expansion as well as improving customer experience. This partnership provides an additional opportunity for revenue enhancement through engagement and training of other Q400 operators.

This press release was sourced from Kenya Airways on 12-Jul-2019.