Market Intelligence: North America

CAE announced that it will increase its ownership stake in its existing SIMCOM Aviation Training (SIMCOM) joint venture by purchasing a majority of SIMCOM shares from Volo Sicuro for USD $230 million, subject to customary adjustments, to be financed with CAE’s existing credit facility and cash on hand. As part of the transaction, Flexjet, LLC, a related party of Volo Sicuro, will retain a minority stake in SIMCOM following the closing, expected to take place in the coming days.

Additionally, CAE and SIMCOM will each extend their respective exclusive business aviation training services agreement with Flexjet and its affiliates by 5 years. This results in a remaining exclusivity period of 15 years for both agreements.

This significant organic investment will further solidify CAE’s presence in its core business aviation training market, increase recurring revenue streams, and reinforce its commitment to delivering world-class training solutions in business aviation. Its long-term exclusive training agreement with one of the world’s leading luxury private jet companies gives CAE even greater exposure to the rapidly growing fractional jet and charter aviation market. CAE expects this investment to be accretive to earnings and free cash flow in the first full-year post transaction.

“We are delighted to increase our investment in this core area and achieve majority ownership of SIMCOM to strengthen our position in the business aviation market, as well as extend our long-standing partnership with Flexjet, one of the leading and fastest growing private jet companies,” said Alexandre Prévost, Division President, Business Aviation. “This highlights our commitment to continuing to drive innovation and provide industry-leading technology to better serve our business aviation customers.”

“CAE has been a great partner over the years, consistently providing high-quality training and delivering a superior customer experience to all of our pilots,” said Flexjet CEO Mike Silvestro. “With this agreement, Flexjet’s 1,400+ pilots will continue to have access to state-of the-art facilities and experience world-class pilot training, enabling us to further enhance our pilots’ quality of life, both on the road, and during a pilot’s recurrent training. As demand for highly experienced, highly skilled pilots continues to rise, best-in-class training is essential to maintaining Flexjet’s unmatched safety standards. We look forward to our continued relationship and collaboration with CAE and SIMCOM long into the future.”

SIMCOM currently provides pilot training across multiple business aviation aircraft platforms, leveraging CAE’s innovative suite of training equipment, including CAE 7000XR Series full-flight simulators (FFSs) and CAE 400XR Series flight training devices (FTDs). SIMCOM operates four training centres in the United States, including its most recent state-of-the-art facility in Lake Nona, Florida.

About CAE
At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying software-based simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, airlines, business aviation operators, and defence and security forces to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we’re everywhere customers need us to be with approximately 13,000 employees in more than 240 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents more than 75 years of industry firsts—the highest-fidelity flight and mission simulators as well as training programs powered by digital technologies. We embed sustainability in everything we do. Today and tomorrow, we’ll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter.

About SIMCOM
A privately-owned, comprehensive learning institution, SIMCOM utilizes realistic simulator-based training to provide advanced aviation training services to professional pilots, owner-operators, Part 135 operators and maintenance personnel operating in general aviation, regional, military, government and cargo operations around the world.  SIMCOM currently operates 40+ simulators and flight training devices representative of a wide range of jet, turboprop and piston powered aircraft.  The company is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

About Flexjet
Flexjet, Inc., a global leader in private aviation, first entered the fractional jet ownership market in 1995 and is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Flexjet offers fractional jet ownership and leasing and is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard, is the first and only company to be honored with 25 FAA Diamond Awards for Excellence, upholds an ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating, a 4AIR Bronze Sustainable Rating and is certified at Stage 2 with IS-BAO. Red Label by Flexjet, a market differentiator, which features an ultra-modern fleet, flight crews dedicated to a single aircraft and the LXi Cabin Collection of interiors. To date there are nearly 50 different interior designs across its fleet, which includes the Embraer Phenom 300 and Praetor 500, Bombardier Challenger 350/3500, the Gulfstream G450 and G650. Flexjet’s European fleet includes the Embraer Praetor 600 and the Gulfstream G650. Flexjet’s helicopter division sells fractional, lease and on-demand charter access to its fleet of owned, operated and maintained Sikorsky S-76 helicopters which boast 55,000 hours of safe flying certified by Wyvern and ARG/US and serving locations throughout the northeastern United States, United Kingdom and Florida. Flexjet is a member of the Directional Aviation family of companies. 

Source: CAE
Photo Credit: CAE