AEGEAN and CAE Partner to Create Greece’s First Advanced Flight Training Center

AEGEAN CEO Dimitris Gerogiannis announcing the first aviation ecosystem for flight training and technical support services in Greece. Photo source: AEGEAN

The first advanced flight training center will launch in Greece following the announcement of a joint venture between Greek airline company AEGEAN and CAE, the global leader in civil aviation training.

With a capacity for up to seven full-flight simulators, the AEGEAN CAE Flight Training Center will be part of AEGEAN’s new 85,000 m2 technical base at Athens International Airport (AIA). The new center is expected to begin pilot and cabin crew training by the end of 2023 and will be the most advanced flight training hub in South-East Europe powered by green energy.

“From the very beginning, AEGEAN’s vision has been to add significant value to our country and the local aviation industry by giving our people the opportunity to sharpen their skills and reach their full potential,” AEGEAN CEO Dimitris Gerogiannis said.

AEGEAN CEO Dimitris Gerogiannis, CAE Group President Nick Leontidis and AEGEAN President Eftichios Vassilakis. Photo source: AEGEAN

The joint venture will initially operate four full-flight simulators, including two Airbus A320neo, one Boeing 737NG, and one ATR 72-600, as well as cabin crew training equipment, and will have space for three additional full-flight simulators. At full capacity, the centre will be able to train up to 3,500 pilots (42,000 pilot training hours) and many more cabin crew annually.

The new Flight Training Centre expands CAE’s global training network and is integral to the creation of AEGEAN’s aviation ecosystem in Greece. This is part of AEGEAN’s 140- million-euro investment to bolster the local aviation industry and position the airline and Greece as an aviation hub in Southeastern Europe.

“This is an investment in the future of aviation. An investment that will grow our business and industry, but more importantly, will give limitless potential to our people,” Gerogiannis added.

Photo source: AEGEAN

The Flight Training Center will be powered by solar energy produced by the 35,000 m2 of photovoltaic panels embedded in AEGEAN’s new “green” hangar, generating 3 MW or 4.4 Gwh of electricity annually, and located at one of Europe’s most sustainable airports.

About the first aviation ecosystem for technical support services and training in Greece

In December 2022, AEGEAN announced an investment of 140 million euros to create the country’s first Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Facility (MRO) and the first Simulator Training Facility for pilots and cabin crew members in one of Europe’s first hangars to be powered by solar panels in Europe.

An investment that, upon maturity, is expected to create up to 500 new direct jobs and a total of more than 1,100 new direct and indirect high-skilled jobs over a five-to-seven-year period.

Source: AEGEAN

With a capacity of 85,000 m2, this project will fill a significant gap in infrastructure at a local level for third party support services through two main parallel activities:

– the maintenance and support center (MRO), with the development of a technical base of up to 10 maintenance, repair, and technical control positions for various types of aircraft
– the AEGEAN CAE Flight Training Centre for pilots and cabin crew members, utilizing up to seven state-of-the-art full-flight flight simulators for the main aircraft types, as well as facilities special cabin crew training.

The project also foresees the technological modernization and energy upgrade of the building facilities, through the installation of 35,000 m2 of photovoltaic panels that will create one of the first hangars to be powered by solar panels in Europe.