LISBOA, 17th December 2024 – Avincis, Europe’s largest provider of emergency aerial services, has started to explore locations for a new state-of-the-art emergency aviation training “centre of excellence” site. Avincis has identified a need to in-source its training to support its global growth ambitions, uphold its commitment to safety, and drive standardisation of operations. The facility will also be available to third party partners who will have the opportunity to benefit from the training expertise and equipment at the centre. The first step is to identify a suitable site in a location that is both accessible and in the right environment for a wide range of training disciplines.

Avincis, Group CEO, John Boag, says: “Our people face challenging and complex situations every single day – it is our job to make sure they are properly trained to the highest safety standards, so they are always able to perform at their best. This facility will support us, to support them, as they focus on saving lives and protecting communities every time they are deployed on a mission.”

Once completed, the training centre of excellence will offer live and synthetic training for pilots, technical and medical crews, and rescue teams in:

• Multiple type full level D flight simulators
• Virtual reality winching devices
• Rescue hoist simulators
• Helicopter underwater escape training
• Sea and mountain / cold weather survival training
• Medical personnel training for air ambulance, HEMS and SAR operations
• Mountain flying operations training
• Emergency personnel mountain rescue training
• Pilot, crew, and medical personnel night vision goggle operations
• Windfarm hoist rescue
• Ski cable car hoist rescue

The centre will also offer training to a new generation of aircraft engineers and technicians for the Avincis global fleet, utilising our Part 147 maintenance training approvals expertise.