Boeing, Nok Air Celebrate 737 Delivery, Kick Off Flight Training Programme

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) -- Boeing delivered Nok Air's 21st Next-Generation 737-800 during a ceremony at the Seattle Delivery Center, marking the third direct-purchased 737-800 to be delivered to the Thai budget airline. In a statement, Boeing said Boeing Flight Services pilots flew Nok Air's newest 737 to Bangkok and kicked off a world-class flight training programme with the airline to strengthen the capabilities of the airline's rapidly expanding flight crew. Boeing Flight Services provides integrated offerings to drive optimised performance, efficiency and safety through advanced flight, maintenance and cabin safety training as well as simulator support and services through a global network of campuses on six continents. Nok Air Chief Executive Officer Patee Sarasin said the new aircraft would provide the airline with the efficiency and reliability needed to succeed in today's competitive environment. "This airplane will continue to form the backbone of our fleet and we look forward to providing our customers with the best flying experience onboard our new airplanes. "Boeing's high quality flight-training programme will continue to help us grow our flight crew as we look to meet the ever raising demands with the most outstanding team members," he added. Boeing Flight Services chief pilot Steve Taylor said there was growing demand for well-trained pilots in Thailand and it was looking forward to working with Nok Air as it continued to expand its operations in the busy Asia-Pacific region. According to the 2015 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook, an industry forecast of aviation personnel demand closely tied to projections for new airplane deliveries around the globe, 226,000 commercial airline pilots and 238,000 technicians would be needed in the Asia-Pacific region through 2034. Asia leads the world for demand of new commercial airplane deliveries over the next 20 years, Boeing said, adding that by 2034, 14,330 new airplanes worth US$2.2 trillion would be needed in the region. By providing customers the support and services they require, such as pilot training, Boeing provides customers a competitive advantage by solving real operational problems, enabling better decisions, maximising efficiency and improving environmental performance. --BERNAMA