CAE partners with AirAsia to build an aviation training centre of excellence and...

CAE partners with AirAsia to build an aviation training centre of excellence
and selects Kuala Lumpur as its Southeast Asian training hub

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - CAE announced it
has selected Kuala Lumpur as the location for its Southeast Asian training
hub, and that it will leverage its existing partnership with AirAsia to
develop an aviation centre of excellence and expand within the region. This
news follows the announcement in November that CAE had signed a contract to
manage AirAsia's Type Rating Training Organization (TRTO) located at the
AirAsia Academy to provide pilot training for all of AirAsia's current and
future pilots.
CAE will deliver world-class aviation training to pilots, maintenance
technicians, and cabin crews for airlines across Southeast Asia. Kuala Lumpur
will also act as CAE's regional hub for Multi-Crew Pilot License (MPL) and
Airbus original equipment manufacturer (OEM) training.
To mark the occasion, CAE and AirAsia hosted a launch event at the AirAsia
Academy. The event was attended by Y.B. Dato' Sri Chan Kong Choy, Minister of
Transport of Malaysia; Dato' Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of
AirAsia Berhad; Captain Subramaniam Cumaraswamy, Head of Type Rating Training
Organization (TRTO) of AirAsia Academy; and Mr. Jeff Roberts, Group President,
Innovation and Civil Training & Services, CAE.
Y.B. Dato' Sri Chan Kong Choy, Minister of Transport of Malaysia said: "We
are delighted that CAE has chosen Kuala Lumpur as the strategic location for
its training hub in Southeast Asia. We anticipate that the partnership between
CAE, a market leader in aviation training, and AirAsia, Asia's leading and
largest low cost carrier, will bring best-in-class training services to the
doorstep of airlines in the region, resulting in improved quality of cadets
and enhanced safety in operations."
Dato' Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Berhad
said: "We look forward to further enhancing our partnership with CAE by
working together to develop the training hub. This announcement reinforces
AirAsia's leadership in the aviation industry across Southeast Asia. Working
with CAE, with its years of expertise in building world-class aviation
training organizations, will enable us to jointly offer the most modern
standards in flight training to airlines across Southeast Asia."
"Southeast Asia is one of the fastest growing markets for aviation in the
world," said Jeff Roberts, Group President, Innovation and Civil Training &
Services at CAE. "With a huge delivery of aircraft expected in the region over
the next few years, the region needs to establish the infrastructure, support,
and standards to ensure the highest quality pilot and maintenance training.
Developing this hub with AirAsia will not only enable us to bring pilot and
maintenance training in Southeast Asia to the next level, it will give Asian
customers the convenience of completing their training close to home."
The AirAsia Academy, located near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport
(KLIA) Low Cost Carrier Terminal Sepang, is currently equipped with three
simulators: two CAE-built Airbus A320s belonging to AirAsia and a Boeing
737-300 owned by CAE. CAE has already committed to add another Airbus A320
simulator and an Airbus A330 simulator over the next 12 months. CAE will add
full-flight simulators, advanced training aids, a simulation based training
curriculum and courseware that meet market demand.
CAE offers training services for pilots and maintenance technicians via a
network of 24 aviation training centres to a range of clients worldwide. To
address the worldwide shortage of pilots, CAE founded the CAE Global Academy,
a global network of flight training organizations. One of the founding members
of the CAE Global Academy, HM Aerospace, is located in Malaysia.
Southeast Asia is currently experiencing a severe shortage of pilots. It
is expected that more than 1,000 pilots will be required per year in the
region over the next 20 years to meet the expanding needs of the industry.
About CAE
CAE (NYSE: CGT; TSX: CAE) is a world leader in providing simulation and
modelling technologies and integrated training solutions for the civil
aviation industry and defence forces around the globe. With annual revenues
exceeding C$1 billion, CAE employs approximately 6,000 people at more than 75
sites and training locations in 20 countries. We have the largest installed
base of civil and military full-flight simulators and training devices.
Through our global network of 27 civil aviation and military training centres,
we train more than 75,000 crewmembers yearly. We also offer modelling and
simulation software to various market segments and through CAE's professional
services division, we assist customers with a wide range of simulation-based
needs. www.cae.com
About AirAsia
AirAsia was recognized at the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Industrial
Technologies Awards. The coveted Human Capital Development Award is presented
to AirAsia Academy in recognition of the airline's demonstration of excellence
in improving their training quality and human capital development within the
industry. AirAsia has consistently shown innovation in competitive strategies
to stay ahead in this challenging market to emerge as the leading contender
for this Award.
AirAsia has carried over 40 million passengers to date, grown from a
2-aircraft fleet to 62 today and now has the most extensive low cost route
network in the region of over 80 routes - all within the grasp of six years in
operation. The airline today is proud to be a truly ASEAN airline with its
network stretches across 10 ASEAN countries.
In 2006, AirAsia added 13 brand new Airbus A320 aircraft to its fleet. The
aircraft proves to be a winning choice as AirAsia guests enjoy bigger seating
capacity, wider aisles, greater comfort and a quieter ride. Airbus A320 is
reputed to be the most modern and sophisticated aircraft of its class, with
high reliability and low operating costs. With 24 Airbus A320 now in
operation, AirAsia will be adding 126 more to its fleet up to 2014, giving it
the largest, youngest and most modern fleet in the region. For more
information, log on to www.airasia.com.
High-resolution downloadable photos of the ceremony will be available on
cae.com/photos
SOURCE CAE INC.

CAE contacts: Nathalie Bourque, Vice President, Public Affairs and Global
Communications, +1-514-734-5788, Mobile: +1-514-887-5599,
nathalie.bourque@cae.com; Investor relations: Andrew Arnovitz, Vice President,
Investor Relations and Strategy, +1-514-734-5760, andrew.arnovitz@cae.com;
AIRASIA contacts: Sherliza Zaharudin, 603-8660-4264,
sherlizazaharudin@airasia.com; Janet Leow: 603-8660-4265,
Janetleow@airasia.com; Andrea Liong, 603-8660-4287, liongwoenyee@airasia.com;
Mazlan Rasheed, 603-8660-4263, mazlanrasheed@airasia.com