The Sky’s the Limit for NZ-Based Simulator Company

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L to R Kai Schroeder- Flight Experience franchise owner for Germany (Flair Aviation- Germany) and Mike Pero

Media release, Monday 29 January 2007

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR NZ-BASED SIMULATOR COMPANY

A major international business coup for Christchurch based Pacific Simulators* with confirmation of the start of a multi-million dollar export sales programme.

Pacific Simulators produces replica cockpits of the Boeing 737 800, the same aircraft type used by Pacific Blue, Qantas and dozens of airlines around the world. The company was a winner in the Champion Canterbury Awards last year.

Managing Director, Mike Pero, says the company now has several confirmed contracts involving companies in Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom.

“The point of difference with Pacific Simulators is the cost of ownership and operation for the owner. Typically a simulator for an airline or training college will cost in the vicinity of NZ$20,000,000, however, we have been able to produce our highly detailed fixed base simulator for under $1,000,000 using Kiwi ingenuity and our number 8 wire!” says Pero.

“There has been considerable thought and investment into R&D here and in true Kiwi fashion we have questioned the traditional methods of construction. Our own team along with dozens of local suppliers has built this one like no other simulator has been built in the world. It’s definitely raised the eyebrows of the whole industry.”

“Even Thales of Europe, one of the World’s largest technology and simulator builders, has asked us to consider a future joint venture on their flight simulators – this is being considered as we talk. For the meantime we have confirmed sales in Germany and Australia to deal with.”

Last year’s projection of $20,000,000 in export (announced at the Champion Canterbury Awards) is very realistic and could well be exceeded if another UK order confirms in the next month – this could see openings in some of the world’s larger airline training organisations.

Mike Pero says this is the payback after three years of hard labour. “The team have been working on this result for a very long time – and it’s a credit to all involved. It’s even better when we get multiple orders from different markets. This week we received confirmation from Flair Aviation of Nurenberg (Germany) the first of seven simulators.” [Photos attached]

The idea of building simulators was first conceived by Russell Hubber, a former radio station programme director. Steve Clarke and Stuart Whelan joined soon after. In 2004 Mike Pero (of Mike Pero Mortgages) took a major stake in the company and has since added his business and marketing acumen to the team’s technical skills.

Pero made the news last week also when another one of his companies (JetEx) was appointed the Cargo General Sales Agent for Pacific Blue, during Sir Richard Branson’s visit.

“I’ve had ongoing correspondence with Richard since early last year on our simulators from an entertainment perspective – it seemed a logical fit with Virgin Entertainment. I’m sure, in time and after a brief chat this time with Richard, that his London management team will pick up on this opportunity.”

In New Zealand Pacific Simulators open their simulators to the general public with a chance to take to the controls of a look-alike Boeing 737.

Pacific Simulators trade their retail operation as Flight Experience™ and have already established in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch.

“While we do not call our simulator a Boeing most airline pilot’s recognise it immediately. For the public this is normally a no go zone. To spend time on the flight deck is a thing of the past,” says Pero.

“The entertainment arm has grown faster than the professional training – we have had hundreds of enquiries to establish these from Turkey, London and Vancover to India and China. This market opens up opportunities in literally every town in the world that’s bigger than Timaru!”

“Most industry engineers and pilots are astonished at the detail we have achieved. This detail was made possible by the assistance of Pacific Blue and by Air New Zealand Engineering (ANZES) where in our early stages of development we needed to study the aircraft and it’s systems.”

“The purpose of flight simulators is to allow pilots to train and practice procedures in the real aircraft environment. The reality of simulators means that pilots can be put into emergency situations that probably will never occur in the real aircraft – they can thrash out, time and time again every scenario so that in the unlikely event of a problem in the sky it has been already practiced in the simulator. All pilots will go through a career of very tough and ongoing renewal tests – in fact their jobs are on the line every six months as their airline is required to check them against the CAA standards. If they fail a simulator test it can lead to the end of their career as a pilot. Simulators are a critical part of all airline training and recurrency checking.

ENDS

Pacific Simulators International Limited www.pacificsimulators.co.nz
Flight Experience Limited www.flightexperience.co.nz

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