The first brand-new Airbus A320ceo Full Flight Simulator (FFS) starts being assembled this week, which will mark the beginning of BAA Training Spain operations.

After all of the preparational works and auditing procedures are finalized, the FFS will be ready for training in March this year. The first groups of Type Rating pilot students will start training in March/April 2021.

Egle Vaitkeviciute, CEO at BAA Training, says: “Despite the coronavirus has seriously challenged the aviation industry, and the implications make themselves felt, BAA Training is confidently moving towards fulfilling its business development and expansion strategy. BAA Training Spain’s goal is to become the largest and highly innovative aviation training center in Southern Europe, catering to the demanding airlines’ pilot training needs and the upcoming recovery of aviation.“

About Airbus A320ceo FFS

The state-of-the-art Airbus A320ceo FFS manufactured by CAE is suited to meet the specific needs of carriers and is certified according to EASA requirements. It has the latest innovative Tropos 6000XR visual system, offering pilots an authentic visual feel. The device is also fully suited for completing the Upset Prevention Recovery Training.

Equipment expansion plans

No later than 2021, a total of 5 more simulators, in addition to the Airbus A320ceo, will be added. They will represent 2 FFSs and 3 FTD Level 2 devices:

• Boeing B737 NG FFS in Q1 2021
• Boeing B737 MAX FFS in Q2 2021
• A320 CEO FTD Level 2 in Q3 2021
• B737 MAX FTD Level 2 in Q4 2021
• B737 NG FTD Level 2 in Q4 2021

The modern facility has room for 11 simulator bays in total, making it the biggest aviation training center in Southern Europe. After the first expansion stage with six simulators in place, BAA Training Spain will be increasing the complexity of its go-to-market strategy and adding more equipment.

Cost-cutting opportunity for airlines

For the first time in the company’s history, BAA Training Spain introduces a new cost-efficient opportunity to complete approximately 50% of the Type Rating program on an FTD Level 2 instead of an FFS. This possibility will save airlines up to 40% of their financial resources for each hour on the substitutional device.

„It is an attractive alternative for customers interested in meeting rigorous regulatory requirements and at the same time allocating less budget for pilot training. This is especially relevant now as the airline industry has suffered a profound decline,“ comments Aurimas Urbonas, Managing Director at BAA Training Spain. 

El-Prat airport – dominant international gateway

A modern BAA Training Spain training center is just 10 minutes away from El-Prat, the dominant international gateway to Barcelona and the second busiest airport in Spain (52,686,314 passengers in 2019). The airport is a central hub, and Barcelona is a focus destination for many European airlines. BAA Training Spain’s simulator center will be a convenient and cost-effective choice for carriers seeking steady recovery after the pandemic. It can deliver 44,000 simulator hours and ensure recurrent training for 4,300 pilots annually.