Fiji Airways has revealed a significant upgrade to its Aviation Academy with the official launch of two new CAE 7000XR full flight simulators. These simulators are designed for the Airbus A350 and ATR-72 aircraft, alongside two CAE 500XR Fixed Training Devices (FTDs) for the Airbus A330 and Boeing 737 Max 8.
The advanced simulators have been successfully installed and certified by both EASA and CAAF, marking a key achievement in the Academy’s ongoing effort to provide high-quality training for pilots and engineers. Since its establishment in December 2019, the Fiji Airways Aviation Academy has focused on nurturing local talent and delivering a wide range of training solutions.
The facility is equipped to meet various aviation training needs, including those for pilots, cabin crew, engineering, and safety. By introducing advanced training technology in Fiji, the Academy enhances its capability to support local professionals, allowing them to receive exceptional training without having to travel extensively abroad. This initiative enables pilots and engineers to remain closer to their families while furthering their careers, showcasing the company’s commitment to their development and well-being.
The addition of these full-flight simulators and FTDs reinforces Fiji Airways’ role as a premier aviation training center in the Pacific. The A350 and ATR full-flight simulators will offer trainees an advanced, realistic training experience that closely replicates actual flying conditions using the latest technology.
Fiji Airways’ CEO and Managing Director, Andre Viljoen, remarked that the introduction of these new full flight simulators represents a major advancement for the Aviation Academy. He emphasized the company’s commitment to upholding the highest training and safety standards for its pilots and engineers, while positioning Fiji as a regional leader in aviation.
Since opening, the Academy has achieved significant milestones, including maintaining the readiness of the national technical crew during the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitating the advancement of 34 national pilots into cockpit positions, completing 45 Type Ratings for national pilots, assisting 74 foreign license conversions, reintegrating 13 Fijian pilots returning from abroad, and training over 600 local cabin crew members.
Earlier this year, the Board approved a plan to invest in four additional pilot training devices, which will double the current synthetic training device availability, representing a total investment of approximately FJ$160 million, split between FJ$85 million in Phase 1 and an additional FJ$75 million in Phase 2a.
With this launch, the Academy now boasts four full flight simulators covering all of Fiji Airways’ aircraft types and four FTDs, all ready for training. This initiative underlines the commitment to fostering local talent and ensuring Fiji remains a leader in the global aviation industry.
Fiji Airways intends to continue investing in the Academy to develop it into the preferred hub for commercial aviation training in the Pacific. The company aims to expand the Academy based on Fiji Airways’ own training requirements as the principal customer, enabling it to compete in the global airline training market while generating new revenue streams for the airline. Furthermore, the Academy has available capacity for third-party airlines, which will help sustainably lower its operating costs.