“Simplifly flies high
Helicopter and aircraft operator Simplifly has expanded into flight training with the launch of the Millennium Flight Academy ( MFA) , the airline said in a statement released to the media. Millennium Flight Academy ( MFA) commenced pilot training in April 2014 with two Cessna aircraft, and currently offers a fleet of 4 trainer aircraft.
“Simplifly is widely regarded locally and abroad as 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 to train a new generation of flyers to meet the growing demand for commercial pilots, both here and overseas. The launch of the Millennium Flight Academy continuous the tradition of our airline remaining at the forefront of aviation development in Sri Lanka”, said the vice chairman Mr. Suren Mirchandani 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, he academy is also able to certify pilot 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 a great potential for Sri Lanka becoming known as 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 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 our country as a leading recruiting destination for the aviation industry.
I have to thank our commercial partners, including the owner s of the amphibian aircraft for taking a bold step in bringing down an aircraft to facilitate licensing options previously not available in the country.
In additional details released, MFA announced that they had already flown 3600 hours for training purposes, and soon hopes to add a multi- engine aircraft to its growing fleet. Located in Ratmalana airport, academy students 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 o 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 Beech craft 900, followed by the acquisition of their own 8 seater GA8 aircraft in 2010. After having flown their 28,000 passengers in 12 years of operations the airline has more recently moved into fleet management through their Ready- Jet- Go division which also manages a Cessna amphibian aircraft on behalf of a third party corporate client, which allows companies considering the purchase of their own aircraft to easily do so without the need to obtain their own license.
“Simplifly is widely regarded locally and abroad as 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 to train a new generation of flyers to meet the growing demand for commercial pilots, both here and overseas