Flydubai and CAE will jointly develop a new pilot training center under an agreement signed at the Dubai Airshow on Tuesday. The $56 million facility in Dubai will feature six full-flight simulators for the airline's Boeing 737 Max fleet and plans call for it to open in January 2025.
The site at Flydubai’s headquarters covers 38,000 sq ft and will house six simulator bays, providing capacity for more than 43,000 training hours each year. The facility’s modular construction will allow for possible future expansion.
According to Flydubai, the new facility will generate significant savings in the cost of flight crew training over its first decade in operation. In addition to pilots, cabin crew will also conduct training there, and the center will also accommodate the low-cost carrier’s cadet program and maintenance apprenticeships.
“We are proud to announce the plans for our very own full-flight simulator facility, which has always been a vital part of our growth strategy,” said Flydubai chief technology and supply chain officer Mohammed Harib AlMheiri. “As the demand for pilots and pilot training continues to soar in the region, it has become essential for airlines to have their own training facilities, enabling them to take more control over their training requirements.”