HAITE Group launches its first aviation training center in Singapore

It is the first major investment by a Chinese aerospace firm.

Singapore-based investment entity Aviation Safety and Training company, HAITE Singapore, launched HAITE Singapore Aviation Training Centre. Managed by China-based integrated aerospace company, HAITE Group, the training center marks the company’s first aviation training centre outside China and is the first major investment by a Chinese aerospace company in Singapore.

Located in Changi Business Park, the 6-storey facility covers over 21,000 sqm and holds two 7000 Series Full Flight Simulators with bays for accommodating five additional simulators. The training center will serve as a training hub for pilots and related aviation crew for various types of aircraft that are widely used in China and the Southeast Asia region.

According to Marc Nadeau, managing director of HAITE Singapore, the training centre offers professional and customised training programmes led by highly-experienced SFI-, TRI- and TRE-certified trainers. Apart from the flight simulator bays, the centre also features briefing rooms, classrooms, computer-based training (CBT) rooms, training auxiliary facilities, a rooftop conference/dining room, as well as a crew lounge and cafeteria.

“HAITE Singapore stands out in the region for several reasons, first of which being the state-of-the-art training devices that HAITE offers. Not only do we provide trainings in the latest, most modern Boeing and Airbus simulators, we will also be offering training for business aviation aircraft and helicopters. In addition, we pride ourselves for being a nimble and flexible organisation that readily adapts to our customers’ needs. Besides that, our close proximity to the airport is also an added advantage,” said Marc.

Launching the Singapore Aviation Training Centre is part of HAITE Singapore’s intent to meet the growing training needs of airlines in the fast-growing Asia Pacific region and to penetrate the world aviation market. Marc said that they selected Singapore as their first overseas venture because it sits in the centre of Southeast Asia and is a trans-hub for Europe and the Pacific.

“Singapore stood out as a structured, stable, and dependable business environment. This makes sense for us since HAITE Group is an integrated aerospace company that specialises in repair and maintenance, inspection, and research and development of aviation electronics and mechanics. Singapore will become the focal point for HAITE’s other business activities,” said Marc.

While HAITE Singapore is hopeful to achieve its vision with the new training centre, Marc reveals that they had a hard time identifying the suitable piece of land for the building. He also admit that the cost of operations and set-up in Singapore is comparatively higher than in neighbouring countries. However, he notes that HAITE eventually still chose to go with their plans because of the ‘business-friendly environment, great reputation, as well as tax incentives’ in Singapore.

“In land scarce Singapore, our first and biggest challenge was to identify a suitable piece of land. The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and JTC Corporation both rendered their assistance very early on in the project. By working closely with them, HAITE managed to secure this parcel of land and eventually get to where we are today – the official opening of the HAITE Singapore building. As a whole, Singapore gave HAITE plenty of confidence for its first overseas venture,” said Marc.

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