Singapore-Based Airline Transitioning To Dreamliner Fleet With 20 On Order

Boeing and Singapore-based Scoot airline have announced a five-year pilot training agreement to support the Singapore-based airline's fleet transition to 787 Dreamliners.

Under the agreement, Boeing Flight Services, a business unit of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, will provide 787 flight training to Scoot pilots at Boeing's Singapore training campus. In 2014 alone, an anticipated 32 Scoot pilots will undergo training.

"We are proud to provide Scoot—a growing airline in a growing region—with the industry's best flight training as they add the 787 to their fleet," said Sherry Carbary, vice president of Boeing Flight Services. "Aviation opportunities—for airlines and pilots—are expanding rapidly in the Asia Pacific region, and we're pleased to offer a robust network of experienced instructors and training devices close to our customers across the region."

The 2013 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook, a respected industry forecast of personnel demand, projects a requirement for 498,000 new commercial airline pilots and 556,000 new maintenance technicians to fly and maintain the new airplanes entering the world fleet over the next 20 years. In Southeast Asia, 51,500 pilots and 64,700 technicians are needed to fill the gap.

"This is an exciting time for Scoot, as we expand our services throughout the Asia Pacific region, and work with Boeing for world-class flight training," said Campbell Wilson, Scoot chief executive officer. 

Scoot will acquire 20 Boeing 787s beginning in late 2014. The airplanes were originally ordered by parent company Singapore Airlines. Scoot currently operates 777s on medium and long haul low-cost flights between Singapore and Sydney, Gold Coast, Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo, Tianjin, Shenyang, Nanjing, Qingdao, Seoul, Perth and Hong Kong.

FMI: www.boeing.com