Emirates Opens New Crew Training Centre to Support Fleet Expansion
Emirates has opened a new flight crew training centre in Dubai to support its operational and fleet expansion. This facility is intended for training both current and future pilots on the airline’s Airbus A350 aircraft as well as the upcoming Boeing 777X models. Spanning 63,318 square feet and located near Emirates’ existing training facilities, the centre features six full-flight simulator bays and is part of a larger aviation training hub in Dubai.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline and Group, said: “Our new Emirates Crew Training Centre is a gamechanger and has a significant role to play, both in the industry’s ecosystem and Dubai’s emergence as a global aviation hub. Every dirham of our AED 500 million investment is already delivering value.
“The centre sets new firsts and serves as best-in-class in aviation training, shaping our programmes and preparation for our future fleet. Above all, our pilots and instructors have shared stellar feedback on the new facility and that is immensely rewarding.”
The facility features Emirates’ own Pilot Support Station (PSS), which enables pilots to configure flight decks, create flight plans, and enhance their training processes. Sessions are recorded to aid in performance reviews and improve learning outcomes. Furthermore, the center is equipped with 3D printing capabilities that allow for the production of components for training equipment, potentially saving up to AED 1 million each year.
Training has commenced with two A350 full-flight simulators, and four additional simulators, including those for the Boeing 777X, are set to arrive within the next two years. Each simulator is capable of providing 7,500 training hours annually for up to 1,000 pilots. Once fully operational, Emirates will have a total of 17 simulators, which will increase its training capacity by 54%, allowing for 130,000 training hours per year across its facilities. The first A350 full-flight simulator has received the highest qualification rating (Level D) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) at the Airbus A350 Standard 1.3.
The centre features four classrooms designed for recurrent, conversion, and command training. In addition to this new facility, Emirates offers a variety of training and development programs at its other Dubai-based centres, which include the Emirates Flight Training Academy, the Emirates Cabin Crew Training Centre, and Emirates Aviation University. The airline is currently recruiting pilots for its Direct Entry Captain, Accelerated Command, and First Officer non-type-rated programs.
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