Bill Carey

L-3 Communications has formed a new Commercial Training Solutions division by combining simulator manufacturer L-3 Link UK and its airline pilot training organization, L-3 CTC Aviation.
L-3 Commercial Training Solutions is based in Crawley, UK, and includes L-3 CTC Private Jet. It offers commercial aviation training and services, including selection, ab initio training, resourcing and airline recurrent, type and command training, supported by high-fidelity simulation products.
Announced on July 7, the division was created to meet current and emerging market requirements and drive continued efficiencies, L-3 said.
“L-3 now offers a seamless, one-stop shop that provides customized and affordable solutions to support the global commercial aviation training marketplace,” said Steve Kantor, L-3 Electronic Systems president. “Given the global pilot shortage and the growing need for pilot training at all proficiency levels, we are now optimally positioned to serve this market with our technical expertise and leading innovative products and capabilities.”
CTC Aviation and Link UK have collaborated since L-3’s acquisition of CTC in May 2015. They established a training facility at Gatwick Airport outside of London that houses L-3 RealitySeven training devices for both Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The collaboration led to a partnership with Virgin Atlantic Airways to provide Boeing 787 training and CTC instructors using a Link UK RealitySeven full-flight simulator.
As a part of the consolidation, the training portfolio of Link UK has been aligned with CTC Aviation’s airline training business. This includes the Asian Aviation Training Center in Bangkok, Thailand, which was recently expanded from six to eight full flight simulators.
L-3 will be exhibiting an Airbus A350 RealitySeven flat panel trainer here at the show (Outside Exhibit 31). The first such FTP is destined for new A350 operator Cathay Pacific, which is based in Hong Kong.

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