Virgin Blue has recently made a $10 million investment and purchased an Embraer simulator, to add to their training facility in Brisbane. This Embraer simulator is know as an E-Jet, and is deigned and built to replicate Virgin’s E190 jet; it is the first to be introduced to Australia.

This E-Jet is used for training purposes and Virgin has made this huge investment to improve its infrastructure for pilot training and recruitment. Until now Virgin Blue pilots have had to travel to Britain, Singapore or Zurich to receive their training and simulator sessions.

A statement from Brett Godfrey, Virgins chief executive, said that “Virgin Blue is committed to providing its pilots with the highest levels of training and ensuring we have the facilities to support the airline’s ongoing pilot recruitment needs. We consider the investment in the E-Jet simulator as an investment in the long term future of our pilots and the growth of our airline.”

Virgin aims to make Brisbane the leading aviation training facility for the Asia-Pacific region. It currently homes a Boeing 737 simulator and the new addition of the E-Jet will make Brisbane the leading pilot training hub in Australia. The airline plans to make the device available for foreign pilots in the future.

Virgin wants to introduce 24 more Embraer 170 and 190 aircrafts to its fleet by the end of 2009. The new electron motion simulator is therefore already fully booked for pilot training, pilot support and engineering and recruitment training for the next two years. It is reported that the $10 million stimulator will be used 7 days a week, 21 hours a day.

Virgin has announced that the new E-jet simulator is far more economical to run as it uses 70% less energy than the current hydraulic simulators and therefore it is far more environmentally friendly.

For information about Virgins E-Jet investment see their news page at http://www.virginblue.com.au/AboutUs/Media/NewsandPressReleases/P_004534.htm