Emirates to build $135 million pilot training center for A350 and B777X fleet

Emirates has announced that it is building a $135 million training facility to accommodate 6 Full Flight Simulator Bays (FFS) for its future Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X aircraft.

The new, 63,318 square feet facility is scheduled to open in March 2024, and will have the potential to expand Emirates’ pilot training capacity by 54% annually.

The building will be adjacent to the existing Emirates Training Facilities in Dubai.

Emirates said that its pilots will have increased flexibility and facilities to hone their flying skills across the airline’s training buildings, with 17 full flight simulator bays offering a capacity of more than 130,000 training hours a year.

Emirates’ newest training facility will commence training its first batch of A350 pilots by June 2024, in time with the scheduled delivery of the airline’s first Airbus A350 aircraft.

“This US$ 135 million investment to build a new pilot training center will ensure Emirates’ readiness to commence its pilot training ahead of the delivery of its new aircraft fleet starting from 2024,” Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive Emirates Airline and Group said in a statement.

“The building will be equipped with the latest, technologically advanced simulators to provide the best training for pilots, while using solar power to reduce energy consumption,” he added.