737 Simulator At Core Of Alteon Training, Sierra Academy of Aeronautics Partnership

Boeing Co. subsidiary Alteon Training announced this week the launch of a $25M project to build a new pilot training center in Atwater, CA at Castle Commerce Center, formerly known as Castle AFB.

Slated to open in February, the training center will be operated jointly by Alteon and Sierra Academy of Aeronautics. At its heart will be a $15M Boeing 737 simulator that will be used to train a projected 200 pilots a year from around the world.

Pilots are expected to come to the academy for seven-month courses, allowing the center to operate year-round, six days a week, 20 hours a day.

The training center is expected to bring in $8 million a year in revenue, county spokeswoman Katie Albertson said to the Modesto Bee this week.

Since the military left Castle in 1995, and the base was transferred to Merced County, officials have worked hard to redevelop the facility into a commercial airport and business center. The county has spent more than $17 million since 2003 refurbishing the base property to make the airport financially viable.

"This is very exciting for us," said John Fowler, the county's economic development director. "This is the perfect re-use of Castle, and we think this will have a very significant impact on Merced County's economy."

Castle already has a flight-simulator building that had been used by the Air Force, Fowler said. He said Alteon is expected to invest nearly $25 million revamping the building and installing a new, Canadian-built simulator.

Sierra Academy of Aeronautics currently offers professional pilot training programs at their existing campus at Castle in addition to another training facility in Livermore, CA.

FMI: www.alteontraining.com, www.sierraacademy.com, www.castlecommercecenter.com