European Airline Owned Pilot Training Group Lufthansa Aviation Training Launches B787-9 Dreamliner Simulator at Vienna Training Center

03rd Feb 2025
  • First Long-Haul Simulator Boeing 787-9 for the Vienna Location.
  • New CAE 7000XR Full Flight Simulator (FFS) in Operation Since January 2025.
  • More Efficient Deployment Planning for Austrian Airlines Cockpit Crews.**

Vienna, AustriaLufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) officially put a Boeing 787-9 (Dreamliner) Full Flight Simulator (FFS) into operation in Vienna on January 30, 2025, thus complementing the simulator fleet with a first long-haul model at this location. This expands the Lufthansa Group’s training organization’s offering of state-of-the-art simulators in Austria and strengthens pilot training for Austrian Airlines with the latest simulator technology.

The 787-9 simulator from CAE’s 7000XR series meets the highest certification standards (Level-D) and enables realistic training that can simulate all flight conditions of the Boeing 787-9. Planning for the new simulator began in mid-2023 in close collaboration between LAT and Austrian Airlines. In the fall of 2023, the selection of a suitable manufacturer began. After several weeks of evaluation, the choice fell on the Canadian simulator manufacturer CAE. Subsequently, specific requirements were developed in cooperation with Austrian and implemented with CAE. An acceptance of the FFS took place together with technicians from LAT and a pilot from Austrian Airlines in July 2024 on-site in the assembly halls in Montreal. Installation in Vienna, extensive testing phases, and final acceptance by the ACG were carried out from September to December 2024.

The simulator was presented at an opening ceremony at the training center on January 30, 2025, attended by invited guests and officially inaugurated by LAT Managing Director Matthias Spohr and Austrian Airlines COO Francesco Sciortino. In addition to Austrian Airlines, other LAT customers were also among the participants.

Lufthansa Aviation Training CEO Matthias Spohr: “The commissioning of the 787 Full Flight Simulator at Vienna Airport is a significant step in enabling Austrian Airlines to train at the highest level at their home base. I am very pleased that with this project, we can now provide our colleagues at Austrian and other LAT customers with one of our most modern long-haul simulators inthe Austrian capital. With this expansion in pilot training, we at LAT are continuing to implement our strategic approach to offering optimal training close to our customers.” 

Since June 2024, two Dreamliners have already been part of Austrian Airlines’ long-haul fleet. By the end of 2028, nine more Boeing 787-9s will gradually replace the current long-haul jets of types 777 and 767. The newly operational simulator also allows for reduced travel times for Austrian’s cockpit crews and increased efficiency in deployment planning.

Austrian Airlines COO Francesco Sciortino: “The benefits for us as Austrian Airlines at the Vienna location, brought by the simulator for our newest long-haul aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 ‘Dreamliner,’ are manifold: For our training processes, the new 787 simulator means more time flexibility in our training schedules and significantly reduced complexity, as our 787 pilots no longer need to travel to other simulator locations for training purposes. This helps us both with the initial training on our newest long-haul model in the fleet and subsequently with the regular, mandatory training sessions. In the medium term, this will also significantly reduce our training costs.”

About Lufthansa Aviation Training
Lufthansa Aviation Training GmbH (LAT) is one of the leading companies in the field of flight training, with its expertise in the education and training of cockpit and cabin personnel at ten training locations worldwide. The company is headquartered at Munich Airport and employs around 800 people at all training locations. The customer portfolio includes over 250 nationally and internationally renowned airlines, including the Lufthansa Group airlines. Lufthansa Aviation Training has almost 200 training devices, including training aircraft for pilot training, flight simulators of all common aircraft types for pilot training, and emergency and service mock-ups forthe education and training of cabin crews. Under the brand European Flight Academy (EFA), Lufthansa Aviation Training bundles the flight schools of the Lufthansa Group. 

About Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines is Austria’s leading airline, with a global network of more than 120 destinations. With its hub atVienna Airport, Austrian Airlines connects Austria with Europe and the world. As Austria’s home airline, Austrian stands for the highest service quality and responsible handling of the environment and society. Austrian Airlines iscommitted to halving its net CO2 emissions by 2030 and flying CO2-neutral by 2050. Since 2023, Austrian Airlines’ environmental management has been validated according to the EMAS standard. Austrian Airlines ispart of the Lufthansa Group, Europe’s largest airline network, and a member of Star Alliance, the world’s first global network of international airlines.

Source: Lufthansa Aviation Training GmbH
Photo Credit: Lufthansa Aviation Training GmbH

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