Loong Air’s CAE A320 simulator ready for business

CAE announced that Loong Air’s first CAE-built A320 full-flight simulator (FFS) is now ready-for-training (RFT) at the airline’s newly constructed training facility in Hangzhou, China. This milestone marks a significant step in Loong Air’s strategy to expand and enhance its pilot training capabilities. The CAE A320 simulator is the first device installed in Loong Air’s new facility, setting the foundation for a modern training environment. By leveraging CAE’s advanced solutions, Loong Air enhances operational efficiency and accelerates pilot readiness. CAE will provide Loong Air with three Airbus A320 full-flight simulators (FFSs) and three flight training devices (FTDs), with options for additional simulators in the future. Two additional FFSs are scheduled to be ready-for-training in 2026. “We are thrilled to welcome Loong Air as a new customer to CAE. As they grow their fleet and pilot base, we look forward to supporting their vision with advanced training solutions that deliver immersive experiences and prepare their pilots for the moments that matter,” said Alexandre Prévost, President, Civil Aviation, CAE. “This partnership highlights CAE’s commitment to innovation and to helping airlines in China meet the evolving demands of modern aviation.” Loong Air currently operates a fleet of 74 A320 family aircraft and employs more than 800 pilots. The new CAE simulators feature the CAE Prodigy visual system, delivering exceptional image quality and an immersive training environment that enhances realism and pilot engagement. “Partnering with CAE, a global leader in aviation training, is a significant step for Loong Air as we expand our capabilities. The installation of our first CAE-built A320 full-flight simulator reflects our commitment to providing world-class training for our pilots,” said Liu Qihong, Chairman of Loong Air. “CAE’s reputation for excellence and innovation gives us confidence that we are equipping our crews with the highest standards of safety and operational performance.” This partnership strengthens CAE’s footprint in Asia-Pacific, a region where demand for skilled pilots is projected to surge. According to CAE’s 2025 Aviation Talent Forecast, more than 98,000 new commercial pilots will be needed in this market over the next decade. By supporting Loong Air’s long-term training strategy with advanced solutions, CAE is helping address this growing demand while strengthening its role as a trusted partner in the region. CAE, Czech ANS partner on training CAE and the Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic (ANS CR) announced their plans to partner in advancing and modernising Air Navigation Services (ANS) training across Europe. This new initiative will bring together CAE’s global leadership in aviation training and ANS CR’s trusted operational expertise and renowned training excellence through the Czech Aviation Navigation Institute’s (CANI), to create a scalable, future-ready training ecosystem. “The aviation industry is in a period of rapid growth and evolving demands, creating opportunities to rethink training capacity and workforce development,” said Marie-Christine Cloutier, CAE’s Vice President, Performance, Strategy and Marketing. “By joining forces with ANS CR, we are leveraging the expertise of two industry leaders to shape a new and innovative approach to ANS training. Our objective is to modernize and enhance accessibility to essential training infrastructures by leveraging CAE’s European network to support Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) across Europe and around the world.” “At ANS CR, we see this partnership with CAE as a transformative step for air navigation training in Europe. By combining our operational know-how and the proven excellence of CANI with CAE’s global training leadership and advanced digital capabilities, we are creating a modern, scalable training ecosystem that will strengthen the readiness of air traffic controllers. This plan to partner reflects our commitment to innovation and to ensuring that European and international ANSPs have access to the highest quality training solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow,” said Jan Klas, ANS CR CEO. This initiative will address key industry challenges such as growing air traffic, evolving regulations, and workforce shortages, with a flexible training framework that uses advanced technology, regional training centres, and portable solutions. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Kay Rolland at [email protected]