Serves AirTran, Midwest And Boeing Business

Alteon Training a Boeing subsidiary, officially opened its brand new $75 million aviation-training center last week on land owned by the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
 
The newest Alteon training center in the southeastern United States is situated on six acres in the city of College Park. The 52,000-sq. ft. facility will initially employ 15 full-time positions and can accommodate up to 200 trainees per day, comprising pilots, maintenance technicians, and cabin crews.

The Alteon Atlanta Training Center will initially serve AirTran Airways, Midwest Airlines, and Boeing Business Jet operators in the two-story building. The facility can house six full-flight simulators and associated training activities. The equipment installed at the center includes two Boeing 717-200 and one 737-700/-800 full-flight simulators. A third Boeing 717-200 simulator is currently operating at another facility in Atlanta and will be moved to the new center later this year. All simulators are certified to FAA Level "D" standards, which is the highest level of certification for Pilot Simulation Training.

"The opening of the Atlanta Training Center is part of the company's global expansion strategy of establishing a worldwide network of training centers. Our commitment is to provide customer-focused solutions and cost effective quality training to support airline operators world-wide," said Pat Gaines, president of Alteon. "We are consistently increasing training value by placing our training centers at locations that support our customers' operational needs."

The state-of-the-art facility will provide pilot training, aircraft maintenance training, advanced technology training devices, and learning tools including workstations equipped with self-guided computer-based training, allowing students to progress at their own pace.

Alteon Training is supporting the expansion plans of AirTran Airways by focusing on meeting the training needs of the airline.

"The opening of this training center marks a major milestone for our airline," said AirTran Airways Chairman and CEO Joe Leonard. "For the first time in our company's 10-year history, we now have all our pilot training Crew Members and equipment in the same facility. Our pilots will receive the best training with the newest technology."

Attending today's event were the Honorable Shirley Franklin, Mayor of Atlanta; Honorable Jack Longino, Mayor of College Park; William "Bill" Edwards, Fulton County District 7 Commissioner; Ben DeCosta, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport General Manager; and representatives and guests of Alteon and its project developer and construction firms, ABG Atlanta L.L.C. and Southern Construction Group.

"I am delighted that one of the world's top flight training centers is located in South Fulton County," said District 7 Commissioner William "Bill" Edwards. "Alteon's solid reputation for excellence and its presence will have a positive impact on our economy as its staff and visitors enjoy the amenities in the Old National Highway community."

Fulton County Economic Development officials, Atlanta airport officials, and the cities of Atlanta and College Park led the successful recruitment effort that ultimately resulted in Alteon's decision to locate the aviation training facility project in Atlanta.

"Alteon Training Center is a fine example of the outcome of government and the private sector working together," said College Park Mayor Jack Longino.

Aviation General Manager Ben DeCosta hailed the facility as a symbol of Hartsfield-Jackson's commitment to economic development partnerships with neighboring jurisdictions, such as South Fulton and Clayton counties and College Park. "Alteon's flight training center is a welcome addition to the South Fulton County landscape," said DeCosta. "The decision to locate the $75 million facility in College Park is a reflection of the Airport area's ability to attract both customer-oriented and high-tech corporations such as Alteon Training."

"Midwest Airlines is proud to be an anchor customer for Alteon's new training facility," said Thomas J. Irwin, vice president of Flight Operations for Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines. "The Atlanta location brings Alteon's most advanced flight crew training closer to our pilots, helping maximize training time and minimize travel time. This is especially advantageous as we continue to add Boeing 717s to the Midwest fleet."

Alteon Training is the world's premier aviation training partner and the industry leader in providing customer-focused aviation training solutions. The company is able to provide customers an expanding and integrated services portfolio that includes flight, technical and cabin-crew training, and training materials.

Alteon is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company within Boeing Commercial Airplanes' Commercial Aviation Services group. The training organization supports the world's aviation community with more than 70 full flight simulators in 20 locations around the world.

FMI: www.alteontraining.com