China – Air China has reissued a procurement for up to 15 low-cost Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 flight training devices under a two-year framework, after initially opening the project on September 4, 2026. The airline explicitly intends to use the devices for procedural and familiarization training before type-rating training and after pilots enter the fleet, allowing higher-value Full Flight Simulator capacity to be concentrated on training requiring FFS capability.

The framework provides for a combined maximum of 15 A320 and B737 training devices, with each unit capped at CNY150,000 (approximately USD22,400). The final quantity and aircraft-type split will depend on individual orders placed during the two-year contract rather than an immediate commitment to all 15 devices.
Air China describes the equipment as low-cost flight training devices rather than regulatory-qualified FTDs. Each system is expected to incorporate components including force-feedback flight controls, throttle controls, rudder/nose-wheel steering controls, a center pedestal, instruments and displays, additional panels and a simulation computer.
The specification allows devices to operate using established commercial simulation software including Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, X-Plane 12 or Prepar3D. This configuration reflects the project's focus on cockpit familiarization and procedural practice rather than replacing qualified Full Flight Simulator training.
Air China states that the procurement is intended to optimize its training value chain and improve utilization efficiency of higher-value FFS training. The devices are planned for use both before aircraft type-rating training and for procedural and familiarization practice after pilots have entered operational fleets.
Deployment locations will include, but are not limited to, Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Wuhan. For each order, the supplier must deliver, install and commission the equipment to a trainable condition within 90 days.
The original competitive-negotiation notice under project CGXM-PUR-A-202629527 was published on September 4, with supplier registration running through September 11. Air China subsequently reissued the same project on September 15 with the core quantity, pricing, equipment and deployment requirements unchanged; supplier registration under the new notice remains open through September 21. Air China has not stated publicly why the procurement was reissued.
The equipment targets two aircraft families central to Air China's narrowbody operations. Air China's current aircraft information identifies Airbus A319, A320 and A321 variants alongside Boeing 737 aircraft including the 737 MAX 8. A separate February 2026 Air China procurement referenced 24 B737-8 aircraft, 61 A320-family aircraft fitted with specified FOMAX configurations and a further 315 A320-family, B737NG and C909 aircraft within a wider avionics upgrade scope.

About Air China
Air China is China's flag carrier, headquartered in Beijing and listed in Hong Kong, London and Shanghai. The Air China Group reported 964 aircraft across Air China and its controlled airlines as of December 31, 2025, with the wider network supported by Star Alliance connectivity.

Source: Air China Procurement Management Platform

Chinese Airline Seeks Up to 15 A320 and B737 Training Devices to Shift Procedural Training

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