MENA Newswire News Desk: Emirates has made a $48 million investment in advanced pilot and cabin crew training systems as part of its preparations for the introduction of its new Airbus A350 fleet. This investment demonstrates the airline’s commitment to maintaining world-class training standards, supporting its continued expansion. The new systems include three full flight simulators, a fixed base training device, a cabin emergency evacuation trainer, and a door trainer.
These cutting-edge technologies are designed to enhance the realism and effectiveness of training sessions for Emirates’ pilots and cabin crew. The proprietary Pilot Support System (PSS), fully conceptualized in-house, is an industry-first and offers an immersive flight deck setup experience with interactive features. The PSS allows trainees to conduct an interactive flight deck setup during the briefing phase, which can then be recalled when they move to the simulator to continue their training.
The system also offers a debrief mode, enabling instructors to review the recorded sessions and provide feedback on performance. This innovative tool optimizes training efficiency, ensuring pilots are thoroughly prepared for real-world scenarios. Emirates’ first A350 full flight simulator recently received the highest qualification, Level D, from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), achieving this with zero findings – a notable accomplishment in the simulation industry. The second A350 simulator is currently in the onsite acceptance stage and is scheduled to receive EASA approval by November.
In June 2024, Emirates announced a joint collaboration with IATA and Airbus to implement an enhanced Competency-Based Training and Assessment program for A350 type rating. This collaboration aims to elevate the airline’s already robust training framework. By the end of November, Emirates plans to have trained over 50 pilots on the A350 simulators, with nearly 30 pilots and 820 cabin crew members already completing their training. The fixed base training device, which replicates the flight deck with advanced visual and audio systems, ensures a realistic experience for the trainees.
Emirates is set to open a new pilot training facility later this year, spanning 63,318 sq.ft. and housing six full-flight simulator bays for both the A350 and Boeing 777X aircraft. This facility will increase Emirates’ pilot training capacity by 54%, supporting its ongoing fleet expansion, which includes 65 A350s and 205 777Xs. With this new infrastructure in place, Emirates’ pilot training programs will offer more than 130,000 training hours per year across 17 full-flight simulators, cementing the airline’s position as a leader in aviation training.