Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has announced that it is opening a flight crew training center in Singapore for airlines in the region that operate its airliners.

In a statement on August 1, Embraer said the new center, at the Alteon facility in Changi airport, Singapore, is part of a US$40 million investment program being made in the Asia-Pacific region.

Embraer's flight school in Singapore includes ground training facilities and a flight simulator, with an extensive visual library and simulations of all regional airports, that can train 300 pilots a year on all the company's aircraft types.

From 2008, the center will offer operational instruction for flight attendants.

The first Asian client of Embraer to use the Singapore training center is Mandarin Airlines, which recently began to operate the first of eight Embraer jetliners in Taiwan.

Airlines from Australia, India, China, and Japan, among other countries, are also to use Embraer's new training facility.

"Besides hosting our regional headquarters, Singapore is an ideal place for this training center as it is one of the main regional flight hubs," said Embraer's regional marketing director, Jose Ferreira Neto.

Embraer also makes 70-seat aircraft in Harbin, China, in a joint venture with AVIC II. These planes are mainly for airlines in mainland China.

The Brazilian company sold 200 aircraft in 2006 to its four largest Chinese customers, HNA Group, China Southern, China Eastern Jiangsu Branch and China Eastern Wuhan Branch.

Additionally, another 100 Embraer planes were ordered in August 2005 by HNA Group, the Brazilian company's largest single customer.