Emirates Launches State-of-the-Art Crew Training Centre to Fuel Aviation Growth
Emirates has unveiled its cutting-edge flight crew training centre, a major step in the airline’s strategic expansion plans. The purpose-built facility, constructed with an investment of US$135 million, will enhance Emirates’ annual pilot training capacity by 54%, offering 45,000 additional training hours.
Spanning 63,318 sq. ft., the new centre houses six full-flight simulator bays and is designed to train pilots on the Airbus A350 fleet as well as the upcoming Boeing 777X aircraft. Strategically located near other Emirates training facilities, it forms part of Dubai’s thriving aviation hub, supporting employees’ professional and personal growth.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, described the centre as a “gamechanger” that strengthens Dubai’s position as a global aviation hub. “Every dirham of our AED 500 million investment is already delivering value,” he said, adding that the facility sets new industry standards and has received highly positive feedback from pilots and instructors.
The simulators feature the innovative Pilot Support Station (PSS), a first-of-its-kind system developed entirely in-house. Pilots can configure flight decks, build flight plans, and engage with a fully immersive environment before training sessions. All sessions are recorded, enabling instructors to review performance in detail and maximise learning outcomes.
Additionally, the centre is equipped with advanced 3D printing capabilities, allowing the production of complex components for training equipment and generating annual savings of up to AED 1 million.
The centre has begun operations with two A350 full-flight simulators, with four more, including Boeing 777X simulators, expected to be installed over the next few years. Each simulator can provide 7,500 hours of training for up to 1,000 pilots annually. Once fully operational, Emirates’ network of 17 simulators will offer 130,000 hours of training each year, marking a 54% increase in capacity across all facilities.
Notably, Emirates’ first A350 simulator received Level D qualification—the highest rating—from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and is the first globally to achieve Airbus A350 Standard 1.3 qualification with zero findings, a rare feat.
The centre also includes four classrooms to facilitate recurrent, conversion, and command training courses, complementing Emirates’ broader world-class training ecosystem, which includes the Emirates Flight Training Academy, Emirates Aviation University, Emirates Cabin Crew Training Centre, and Emirates Aviation College.
Emirates is actively recruiting pilots for its Direct Entry Captain, Accelerated Command, and First Officer non-type rated programmes. Aspiring aviators seeking to join the world’s largest international airline are invited to apply.
