Fiji Airways has unveiled significant enhancements at its Aviation Academy with the official launch of two new CAE 7000XR full flight simulators designed for the Airbus A350 and ATR-72 aircraft. Additionally, the Academy has added two CAE 500XR Fixed Training Devices (FTDs) for the Airbus A330 and Boeing 737-Max 8.
The advanced simulators have been successfully installed, commissioned, and certified by both EASA and CAAF, representing a critical advancement in the Academy’s mission to provide top-tier training for pilots and engineers. Since opening in December 2019, the Fiji Airways Aviation Academy has focused on developing local talent by providing comprehensive training solutions across various aviation needs, including pilot, cabin crew, engineering, and safety training.
By introducing cutting-edge training technology in Fiji, the airline aims to enhance support for local professionals, allowing them to receive quality training without needing to travel abroad extensively. This initiative helps pilots and engineers remain closer to their families while advancing their careers, demonstrating Fiji Airways’ commitment to their well-being and development.
The introduction of these full-flight simulators and fixed training devices further establishes Fiji Airways as a premier aviation training center in the Pacific. The A350 and ATR full flight simulators deliver the most advanced training experiences, utilizing innovative technology to replicate real-world flying scenarios.
Fiji Airways Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Andre Viljoen, commented on the significance of the new simulators, stating that they represent a major advancement for the Aviation Academy. He emphasized the airline’s commitment to maintaining high training and safety standards for its pilots and engineers, positioning Fiji as a regional leader in aviation excellence.
Since its inception, the Academy has reached several impressive milestones, including the continuation of national technical crew training during the pandemic, supporting 34 national pilots in position upgrades, conducting 45 Type Ratings for national pilots unfamiliar with certain aircraft types, facilitating 74 foreign license conversions, re-integrating 13 Fijian pilots returning from overseas, and training over 600 local cabin crew members.
In early 2023, the Board endorsed an investment in four additional pilot training devices, which will double the Academy’s existing synthetic training device capacity. This investment totals around FJ$160 million, comprised of an initial FJ$85 million in Phase 1 and an additional FJ$75 million in Phase 2a.
With the inauguration of the new technology, the Academy now features four full flight simulators for all of Fiji Airways’ fleet types and four fixed training devices, all fully operational for training. This development underscores the commitment to fostering local talent and keeping Fiji at the forefront of global aviation.
Looking ahead, the Academy plans to continue investments beyond Phase 2a to establish itself as the preferred destination for commercial aviation training in the Pacific. The aim is to build the Academy based on Fiji Airways’ own training needs, allowing it to compete for a share of the global airline training market and generate new revenue streams for the airline. Furthermore, the Academy has capacity to provide services to foreign third-party airlines, which will contribute to sustainably lowering its operating costs.