United Airlines Gets Green Light to Fly to China
United Services Flight Training, part of United Airlines (UA) has become the first training provider outside of China to receive Civil Aviation Authority of China certification to train the nation´s airline pilots.
United has already signed one contract under this certification with a Chinese airline and is finalizing a second to train their pilots on Boeing 757 and Airbus 320 aircraft at the Denver Flight Training Center (Denver TK).
Airline industry estimates indicate a need for up to 10,000 new pilots in China through 2010 –making it one of the fastest-growing markets for the type of flight training United provides.
The certificates issued grant approval for United Airlines to provide "type rating" training on the B757 and A320 fleet types. UA can pursue additional fleet type certificates from the CAAC as training demand warrants.
The Chinese airlines join the ranks of Air Force One and passenger and cargo airlines from Europe, Asia and the Americas in sending their pilots for training at UA´s Denver facility.
Additionally, United will soon begin training with general aviation manufacturer Eclipse Aviation for the pilots of its Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet, the first-ever contract of its kind. The companies expect the first Eclipse 500 pilot to be trained in spring of 2006.
