Singapore, ST Aerospace’s commercial pilot training subsidiary, ST Aerospace Academy (STAA) entered into a partnership with Hainan Aviation Academy (HNAA) to train commercial pilots.

Under the agreement, HNAA will send 50 of its cadet pilots to STAA to undergo STAA’s high performance aircraft training (HPAT) course. STAA will conduct four weeks of ground school at HNAA’s facility at Yichang in Hubei province, China, followed by two weeks of flying training at STAA’s Singapore headquarters. The first batch of 12 cadet pilots commenced their HPAT course in March 2012.

According to ST Aerospace: HPAT serves to help cadet pilots to transit smoothly from handling low power single engine and multi engine aircraft that are used in basic training to multi turbo engine aircraft as an intermediary transition to airliners that are operated by commercial airlines.

Tian Wei, General Manager, Hainan Aviation Academy said: "At HNAA, we are committed to providing our cadet pilots with the best flight training in the market to prepare them for the world of commercial flying. With a reputable and well established brand name like STAA as our flight training partner, we are confident that we are well on course in helping airlines meet their operational need for well qualified pilots."

Peh Teng Keng, President, ST Aerospace Academy  added: “STAA is delighted to collaborate with HNAA to ready cadet pilots for a career in commercial flying. This partnership demonstrates the confidence that HNAA has in STAA’s HPAT programme. We are looking forward to working closely with HNAA to expand the scope of collaboration in the future.”

Hainan Aviation Academy Co. Limited is a subsidiary of Hainan Aviation (HNA) Group. The fourth largest airline group in China with 11 operational bases, HNA Group has more than 300 aircraft of various types, flying to more than 90 destinations around the world via over 500 domestic and international routes. In line with the expansion of HNA Group, HNAA is set up to fulfil the pilot requirements of the group. Its headquarters is located in Sanya and the main flight training base is set up in Three Gorges International Airport in Yichang of Hubei Province with satellite base in Zhongwei Airport in Ningxia, China.

Source: ST Aerospace