2011-01-04
Blue1 signs long term agreement with OAA for turnkey simulator support solution
Oxford Aviation Academy (“OAA”) and Blue1 have signed a long term agreement whereby OAA will provide a turnkey simulator hosting and operational support solution (“OAA Total Simulator Support”) on Blue1’s Boeing 717 full flight simulator at OAA’s Stockholm training facility. The simulator will be the only Boeing 717 level D full flight simulator in Europe and is expected to be ready for training in March 2011.
Earlier this year, Blue1 made the decision to invest in a fleet of Boeing 717 aircraft and a full flight simulator to meet the needs of its rapidly expanding route network and increasing operations. OAA will be responsible for all engineering, maintenance, facility management, customer services and quality support for the simulator.
Heikki Setälä, Head of Flight Operations at Blue1, commented: "Given the lack of B717 simulator capacity in Europe, the acquisition of Blue1’s first full flight simulator was essential to support the major investment we have made in this aircraft type. The size of this investment and the critical nature of the simulator to our business made it imperative that we outsourced the simulator operations to a high quality, established organisation with years of simulator experience and expertise.”
Mike Humphreys, OAA Type Division Managing Director, commented: "We are delighted to add Blue1 to our Total Simulator Support customer list and to further expand our relationship with the SAS Group. Blue1 is expanding rapidly and the investment in their fleet highlights the airline’s commitment to its growth strategy and we look forward to working with them to help deliver their plans.”
About Oxford Aviation Academy (OAA)
OAA is one of the World’s leading independent providers of innovative airline pilot, cabin crew and maintenance training and resourcing services. It is truly unique in its ability to offer a fully integrated global flight crew supply chain. With locations in Beijing, Copenhagen, Dublin, Hong Kong, London (Gatwick), London (Heathrow), Manchester, Melbourne, Oslo, Oxford, Phoenix, Shannon, Stockholm and Tokyo, OAA is able to provide integrated “Total Training Solutions” tailored to meet the particular needs of any airline customer worldwide. OAA is owned by STAR Capital Partners and the GE Corporation.
About Blue1
Blue1 is a Finnish airline, with a route network covering domestic Finland, Scandinavia and key business cities in Western and Central Europe. Blue1 offers an extensive network of 100 daily flights to/from Finland, delivering its important role as part of the global Star Alliance network of world leading airlines. Blue1 has a two class service concept on all flights; Blue1 Premium offering business class level service to frequent corporate travellers and Blue1 Economy for value-for-money leisure travel. Blue1 is a member of the Nordic region’s largest airline group, SAS.
OAA Media contact:
Emma O’Donnell
Group Marketing Manager
Oxford Aviation Academy
Tel: +44 1865 840332
E-mail: emma.odonnell@oaa.com
Blue1 Media Contact:
Tom Christides
VP Communications and Public Affairs,
Blue1 Oy
Tel: +358 40 7523131
E-mail: tom.christides@blue1.fi