Lithuania's aviation-servicing holding and Chinese company sign EUR 53 mln contract

The two companies have signed a joint venture agreement, the group said in a statement.

"This is the next step in our diligent pursuit towards the strategic goal to have 50 FFS network by 2025 and to become a leading, independent from FFS manufacturers, full-scope aviation training service provider for the global aviation industry," Ziemelis said in the statement.

Being a part of Avia Solutions Group, BAA Training together with HNCA will operate a commercial aircraft aviation-training center in Zhengzhou, Henan province (China). BAA Training China center will be equipped with new state-of-the-art training devices and 6 full-flight simulators including Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 family aircraft types to provide a full scope of pilot, cabin crew and ground handling aviation training. Total capacity of training center will be 4000 pilots per year.

Boeing and Airbus predict up to 325,000 pilots will be needed between today and 2037 in the Middle East and the Asia Pacific regions. While China’s fleet alone is expected to more than double, reaching 18 percent share of the world’s fleet.

BAA Training provides training in 110 real flight simulators installed at more than 40 locations in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia.