Representatives from German training aircraft manufacturer GROB Aircraft arrived in Taipei yesterday to explore business opportunities that could be available if the nation decides to outsource basic military training to the private sector.
According to Apex Flight Academy, which is set to form a partnership with GROB Aircraft, the German manufacturer has been seeking business partners in the private sector in Europe and Southeast Asia in recent years.
It included Taiwan in its Asian tour this year, Apex Flight Academy said.
Apex Flight Academy general manager J.J. Tsang (臧運國) said that militaries around the world used to administer the basic flying training themselves, but many countries have begun to outsource the task to private operators.
Tsang said that the government is evaluating whether it should continue budgeting the funds to purchase and maintain aircraft used to train pilots.
GROB Aircraft is set to display and demonstrate two types of aircraft at Taitung Airport from Tuesday through Saturday next week, with the exhibitions to be attended by military officials.
The first type, the G120TP, is manufactured using eco-friendly materials and equipped with functions that can provide various types of advanced pilot training.
GROB Aircraft vice president Karl Fuernrohr said that G-120TP aircraft have more than 90 percent of the functions of the turbo-prop jets in the same class, which could save about 70 percent of fuel costs. Currently, 480 G-120TP aircraft are in service around the world, he said.
The other aircraft to be demonstrated, the G-520NG, can fly at an altitude of 50,000 feet (15.24km) and do aerial photography.
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