First Latin American Airline With E-190, B737 Sims

Copa Airlines has received an Embraer 190 flight simulator, becoming the first airline in Latin America with both Embraer 190 jet and Boeing 737 Next Generation simulators for pilot training.

The Embraer 190 flight simulator was unveiled this week during a ceremony at Copa Airlines' Training Center in Panama, attended by Panamanian President Martin Torrijos, members of his Cabinet and special invited guests.

"The new Embraer 190 simulator allows all our pilots to receive the best training with the most advanced technology in the industry, without having to travel to other countries," said Pedro Heilbron, CEO, Copa Airlines. "We are very proud of our leadership in Latin American aviation; once again, we are in the vanguard of training technology."

The new Embraer 190 simulator, certified by the Civil Aeronautics Authority of Panama (Autoridad Aeronautica Civil), utilizes CAE 5000 technology. The simulator incorporates electric motion and high-definition visual systems that replicate the flight experience and enable pilots to receive training in a variety of Embraer aircraft procedures and maneuvers.

"Having an Embraer 190 simulator in Panama means greater staff productivity and flexibility for the company," explained Captain Larry Ganse, Senior Vice President of Operations, Copa Airlines. "The simulator is programmed for more than 7,300 hours of use per year -- the equivalent of an average of 20 hours of use a day a day by Copa and Aero Republica pilots."

This is the second simulator at the Copa Airlines' Training Center in the City of Knowledge (Ciudad del Saber), an international complex for education, research, and innovation. The Training Center has had a Boeing 737 simulator since 2006.

In addition to the two flight simulators, Copa's Training Center has a cabin simulator for flight attendant training, as well as door and emergency exit window training devices for both types of aircraft. The Center provides training for approximately 230 new pilots and 150 new flight attendants each year, as well as recurring training for 500 pilots and 700 flight attendants annually.

Currently Copa's fleet consists of 13 Embraer 190 and 27 Boeing 737NG aircraft, making it one of the youngest fleets in the Americas, with an average age of 4.1 years.

FMI: www.copaair.com