The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China and China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group Corporation signed a contract to buy a set of full-operational Airbus A320 flight simulator from Thales Group. [Li Zengxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

China's civil aviation regulator and France-based Thales Group recently held a signing ceremony on the purchase of a flight simulator in Beijing.

The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) and China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group Corporation (CASC) signed a contract to buy a set of fully-operational Airbus A320 flight simulator from Thales Group, an international electronic and systematic solution provider.

The first flight simulator CAAC purchased will be used to facilitate training for its own supervisors. They will decide whether a domestically-made simulator meets the requirements for A320 flight simulation.

The simulator has two components: an A320 1.5.0-standard D grade full-operational flight simulator and an A320 flight maintenance exerciser.

It is developed based on the mature C2000X system, adopting the latest technologies and provides full-range simulation for CFM56-5B4 and IAEV2527-A5 engines. It also has a pilot assessment system and an instructor work station.

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The flight maintenance exerciser is a low-level training device, which can simulate the piloting environment in a classroom. With the assistance of the aviation electronic supply software and reality piloting model, it creates an authentic effect that is very similar to the full simulator.

The A320 full simulator and exerciser will be installed at the Sino-Europe Training and Support Center. The center will operate and maintain the A320 simulator set for CAAC.

"Today's event is a reflection of our high-speed growth in the China market," said Jean-Paul Perrier, executive vice president of Thales. "We've delivered and received orders for more than 20 sets of the simulators. Our buyers here include Sichuan Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines. China has become one of our largest client destinations."

Vice chairman of CAAC Li Jian said his bureau chose Thales for its expertise and professionalism as a leading simulator supplier of the world and he hoped there could be further cooperation between the two sides.

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