EDM delivers comprehensive cabin crew training solutions to China’s airlines

20 August 2009

EDM sees a huge export potential from the buoyant aerospace markets in the Far East and particularly in China, where aviation is one of the fastest growing sectors.  EDM has already manufactured many training simulators for airlines and training organisations in China.

The company also has a well-established network of local representatives in China, and has built a strong collaborative relationship with the Xian Feibao Airport Equipment Company that organises training support for a wide range of Chinese airlines.

In addition to the ground-breaking contract to supply a Boeing 787 Door Trainer to China Southern, EDM recently delivered four 737 Door Trainers to Xian Feibao for Xiamen Airlines.  It is also currently manufacturing two more simulators – a 737 Door Trainer and an A330 Door Trainer – that will be supplied to the Shanghai Training School, run by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

“We have worked hard not just on the excellence of our products, which have to replicate the real thing in all important details, but also on developing partnerships in China that have given us the foundation on which to build these export opportunities.” explains EDM’s Managing Director, Kevin Bird.

EDM recently hosted a visit to its Manchester, UK factory from the UK Chinese Consul General, Mr Ni Jian who headed a UK Trade and Industry (UKT&I) delegation that discussed the company’s business links with China and enjoyed a tour of the facilities where some equipment from China was being manufactured.

As well as the range of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, EDM is monitoring the potential of supplying high quality engineering mock ups for the new indigenous Chinese aircraft designs such as the COMAC C919 and the AVIC ARJ 21.

Training solutions specialist EDM has a long and strong pedigree in supplying high-quality simulators to commercial airlines for the comprehensive training programmes required by cabin and flight crews before new aircraft types enter revenue-earning operation.

EDM, based in Manchester, UK, includes many of the world’s major airlines among the customers for its detailed and fully-functional simulators.  The company’s range of bespoke equipment includes aircraft cabins, door and evacuation trainers and emergency slides and rafts.

During intensive work-up schedules, airline cabin crews benefit from EDM’s evacuation and door trainer simulation systems that allow them to practice emergency procedures – with three-axis and tilt motion systems to add realism – through to the more routine service training courtesy of full-size galley and passenger cabin simulators for narrow and wide-body aircraft.

“Utilising the original manufacturers computer-generated design data, we are able to manufacture faithful reproductions of the equipment cabin crews will encounter in operational service.   Our extensive range of simulators covers most modern aircraft types – including Airbus A320, A330, A380 and Boeing 737,757, 767,  777 and the Seattle-based aircraft maker’s latest model and world’s most advanced airliner, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner,” explains Kevin Bird.

EDM has supplied two 787 cabin trainers to Continental during 2009: handed over in the summer, these units are being commissioned this month at the US airline’s major North American hubs – Houston, Texas and Newark, New Jersey.

A Boeing 787 Door Trainer will be supplied to China Southern Airlines, later in 2009 and Asia is expected to prove a strong market for EDM’s 787 simulators following Boeing’s success in Dreamliner sales in this highly active region.

EDM is currently developing a Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer (CEET) for a new training centre in Venice due to begin preparing crews operating a new airliner design, the Sukhoi Superjet SJ100.