Emirates has announced the opening of a new state-of-the-art flight crew training centre, part of the airline’s AED 500 million investment to prepare for future fleet expansion and strengthen Dubai’s position as a global aviation hub.
The 63,318 sq. ft. facility houses six full flight simulator bays and will train current and future pilots on the airline’s Airbus A350s and upcoming Boeing 777Xs. Located close to other Emirates training centres, the facility is designed to provide an integrated hub for pilot development.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, described the centre as a “gamechanger”. He said: “Our new Emirates Crew Training Centre is a best-in-class facility shaping our programmes for the future fleet. Every dirham of our AED 500 million investment is already delivering value.”
The centre features the Pilot Support Station (PSS), an in-house innovation that allows pilots to configure flight decks and prepare flight plans ahead of training, optimising time in simulators. Training sessions are fully recorded, enabling instructors to review performance in detail.
In addition, the centre is equipped with advanced 3D printing technology to manufacture complex components for training equipment, saving the airline up to AED 1 million annually.
Currently, two A350 full flight simulators are operational, with four more, including Boeing 777X simulators, scheduled to arrive within the next two years. Each simulator can provide 7,500 hours of training for up to 1,000 pilots annually. Once fully operational, Emirates will have 17 simulators across its facilities, increasing training capacity by 54% to 130,000 hours a year.
The first A350 simulator has achieved the highest level D qualification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), marking the world’s first simulator certified at Airbus A350 Standard 1.3 with zero findings.
Alongside simulators, the centre also offers classrooms for recurrent, conversion and command training. Emirates pilots undergo evidence-based and competency-focused programmes delivered by experienced instructors.
Beyond the new hub, Emirates operates a wide range of training facilities in Dubai, including the Emirates Flight Training Academy, Emirates Aviation University, Emirates Cabin Crew Training Centre, and Emirates Aviation College, which provide development opportunities for employees and other aviation professionals.
The opening of the training centre comes as Emirates prepares to introduce its first Airbus A350s in 2024, followed by Boeing 777Xs in the years ahead.
