Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Monday, 16 June 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Simplifly marks its tenth anniversary in July this year, and was known as Deccan Aviation until the exit of Indian aviation pioneer, Captain Gopinath from the venture in 2011, which made the company rebrand itself. Simplifly serves the growing demand for domestic air services for the tourism and corporate sector and now operates and/or maintains a total of five aircraft including a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter, with plans to induct an additional helicopter.
“Simplifly is widely regarded locally and abroad for being synonymous with excellent service to its passengers, and has a reputation for innovation and reliability. With a decade of experience, we thought it would now be appropriate to bring our expertise into the training segment to prepare a new generation of local flyers to meet the growing demand for commercial pilots, both here and overseas. The launch of the Millennium Flight Academy continues the tradition of our airline remaining at the forefront of aviation development in Sri Lanka,” said Kevin Pocock, Singapore-based Chairman in a statement released from his office.
According to a company spokesperson, the Millennium Flight Academy was conceived from the ground up to meet the highest global training standards, with a full complement of certification options and a fleet of dedicated aircraft that have been brought down to the country specifically for training purposes.
“MFA offers a wide range of licensing choices, ranging from Private Pilot Licenses for budding flyers, to more advanced training options such as Commercial Pilot Licenses and Air Transport and Flight Instructor Ratings. In addition to regular certification on our own trainer aircraft, the academy is also able to certify pilots for float (sea) plane ratings, something which is currently not available in Sri Lanka. The mission of the MFA is much the same as our airline, to make flying simple and easy,” said a company spokesman.
Suren Mirchandani, Vice Chairman of the airline commented at official launch of the academy: “We see great potential for Sri Lanka in becoming a regional hub for basic and advanced flight training. It is well known that there is a demand for pilots from Sri Lanka, and many top airlines already have pilots from here working for them. We believe that the launch of MFA will further help in strengthening the reputation of Sri Lanka as a great place to train and recruit pilots. It is our vision to establish this country as a leading recruiting destination for the aviation industry. I have to thank our commercial partners, including the owners of the amphibian aircraft for taking a bold step by bringing down an aircraft to facilitate float plane licensing options that until now were not available in the country. Indeed, very few places in the world can claim to offer this rating.”
In details released at the launch, MFA announced that they had already flown over 275 hours for training purposes, and soon hopes to add a multi engine aircraft to its growing fleet. For those already qualified as pilots, the academy also has optional exposure to the larger GA8 airvan, which features a more sophisticated cockpit, an advantage for those applying as trainee First Officers for global airlines that fly bigger aircraft.
Located at Ratmalana Airport, students of the academy are also given unique exposure to other aspects of airline operations and are placed as trainees within various departments of Simplifly in the months leading to graduation, to enhance career opportunities once certified as pilots. Pilots already holding valid local licenses can also hire MFA trainer aircraft to accumulate additional flying hours and experience.
In 2004, after becoming the first private company to operate civilian helicopters in the country, Simplifly went on to add fixed wing services in 2007 on a leased 19 seat Beechcraft 1900, followed by the acquisition of their own eight-seater GA8 aircraft in 2010.
After having flown more than 26,000 passengers in 10 years of operations with over 6,000 hours of flying time, the airline recently moved into fleet management through their Ready-Jet-Go division, a turnkey solution for companies considering the purchase of their own corporate aircraft or helicopter easily without obtaining their own license. Simplify is the only airline that provides helicopter, plane and seaplane transport services under one roof and is a member of the Millennium Group of Singapore.
