Continental Exports Zulu Flight Program

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Key Takeaways:

  • Continental is expanding its Zulu Flight Training business model, a simulator-based franchise, to Europe.
  • Zulu centers operate in city locations, such as malls, providing technology and logistics (like Redbird simulators) that complement traditional air operations.
  • The program is designed to support existing flight training organizations by providing facilities and simulators, rather than direct instructional content, thereby avoiding direct competition.
  • The expansion into Europe will also utilize a franchise model, with Continental actively working with interested companies and individuals.
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Continental will expand its Zulu Flight Training business model to Europe, the company announced at Aero in Friedrichshafen this week. The Zulu system is a simulator-based franchise model that places flight training facilities in city centers, such as malls and store street front locations. Continental opened its first Zulu center in an upscale mall in Spanish Fort, Ala., in 2012. Although the system is simulator centric, Zulu is a dual-site program with air operations at Callahan Airport in nearby Fairhope, Ala.

At Aero this week, Continental is showing the Redbird simulator the system uses in the Zulu program and will display it again at Continentals Flight School Congress in Speyer, Germany, on May 16 and 17. Continental says the Zulu program doesnt compete directly with existing flight training organizations or clubs, because the centers provide only the technology and logistics, not specific flight training materials directly to students. Zulu Center simulators are available to other flight training organizations, according to Continental.

Zulu Flight Centers in Europe will be based on a franchise model. Continental said this week that its already working with companies and individuals interested in expanding Zulu to Europe. For more information on Zulu, see AVwebs video on the Spanish Fort center.

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