Market Intelligence: Far East & China

Pilot Training Industry Supplier Feature – FTD.aero

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series we speak with Filip Witczak – Product Manager at FTD.aero, a Non-Motion Flight Training Devices Manufacturer based in Poland with expertise in designing and manufacturing flight simulators since 2009.

The conversation covers:

  • Company Background and Growth: FTD.aero, founded in 2009 by Filip Witczak, Cpt. Marcin Ambroziak and Krzysztof (Chris) Kimnes, began as a passion-driven startup in Poland and has grown into a 30-person team specializing in non-motion flight simulators. The company develops Boeing and Airbus-based simulators, offering both type-specific and type-representative devices for global clients, including airlines, flight schools, and universities.
  • Key Products and Innovations: FTD.aero provides EASA and FAA-compliant simulators, including the B737 MAX/NG and A320 models. Devices are tailored to client needs, offering high-fidelity cockpits with many original components for immersive, cost-effective training compared to Level D full-flight simulators. FTD.aero uses ARINC and CANBUS for compatibility with aviation standards and increased reliability. Their in-house engineering allows for full flexibility in configuration and future upgrades of each device built by them.
  • Partnerships and Projects: FTD.aero recently partnered with South Korean airline T’way Air to deliver a B738 simulator convertible to a B73M model to adapt to the airline’s changing fleet. Other successful long-term partnerships include LOT Polish Airlines, Urbe Aero Flight Academy (Italy) and VDL Aviation (Poland), reflecting strong customer satisfaction and trust.
  • Expansion and Market Outlook: The company is targeting international markets, including the booming Indian market, to meet increasing pilot training demands driven by aircraft orders and airline growth. Filip sees opportunities in advanced technologies like AI, VR, and AR to enhance pilot training and address instructor shortages.
  • Challenges and Vision: Filip highlighted regulatory delays as a challenge for adopting advanced training technologies and emphasized the need for updated standards. FTD.aero remains focused on providing tailored, high-quality solutions, emphasizing customer partnerships, long-term support, and cost-effective training for a global market.

For more information:

You can find all of the AFM.aero Pilot Training Industry Interview Episodes here.

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Airbus: China Aviation Services Market is Expected to be the Largest by 2043

Beijing, China – China will overtake North America and Europe to become the largest market for aviation services by 2043, with its market value almost tripling from US$23bn in 2024 to US$61bn in 2043 according to Airbus’ latest Global Services Forecast (GSF).

Despite multiple challenges, China’s civil aviation market has been resilient in 2024. A total of 700 million travelers are expected to have flown during the year, representing the highest volume to date. At the same time, the further development of China’s international hub airports have made it easier for connecting with domestic traffic. The services market value in 2024 has grown to US$23bn from US$18.6bn in 2023, or by 24% year on year.

China continues to show strong fleet growth potential in the next 20 years. By 2043, China will have 11,160 aircraft in service based on Airbus Global Market Forecast, in which 9,520 are new deliveries (including passenger aircraft and freighter), accounting 20% of the global demand. Among the new aircraft, more than 26% are intended to replace the current fleet. Thanks to the strong growth of new deliveries and traffic demand, China’s overall services demand is expected to grow with 5.1% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), making the country the biggest service market in the world. The three main drivers for this growth are the services areas of maintenance, training and operation and solutions for fleet enhancement.

In China, maintenance services represent almost 83% of the total services market. The ‘Maintain’ sector will grow from US$19bn in 2024 to US$51bn in 2043 (+5.3% CAGR) as the fleet expansion and aging fleets drive the growth of maintenance spending, dismantling and recycling demand (CAGR +14.4%) and Used Serviceable Material (USM) business.

The ‘Enhance’ services, representing 10% of the overall services market and mainly concerning connectivity solutions enabled by digitalisation, is expected to be the sector with fastest growth at a CAGR of 5.6% from US$2 billion in 2024 to US$6 billion in 2043.

At the same time, new skills are required to secure the growing use of digital and new technologies. For the ‘Train and Operate’ market, there’s a demand of additional 478,000 skilled workers including technicians, pilots and cabin crew with the growth from US$2bn to US$4bn in 2043, all in need of professional training and flight operations solutions.

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus

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Flight School Management Software Solutions Provider, Private-Radar, Reflects on Growth and Impact in 2024

Madrid, Spain – headquartered Private-Radar, a global provider of aviation training management solutions, marked its 10th anniversary in 2024, showcasing significant achievements in automation, safety, and efficiency within the pilot training industry. The company supports over 120 aviation training institutions globally, with key milestones highlighting its growth, innovation, and social impact.

  • 2024 Highlights:
    • Supported 70,000 users with its Flight School Management System.
    • Managed 820,000 bookings and recorded 510,000 flight hours.
    • Installed 700 Flight-Trackers in aircraft worldwide.
  • Solution Improvements:
    • Launched over 30 new features and updates, including an 80% redesign of the Schedule page for improved user experience and performance.
  • Company Expansion:
    • Partnered with 30+ new training institutions across 12 countries, with new markets in Kazakhstan, Romania, Ireland, and Cyprus.
    • Expanded its team to 18 staff members.
  • Event Participation:
    • Las Vegas FSANA (USA)
    • Berlin Pilot-Expo (Germany)
    • Friedrichshafen AERO (Germany)
    • Cascais EATS (Portugal)
    • Vancouver ATAC (Canada)
  • Social Responsibility:
    • Partnered with UK charity Wings for Warriors to provide its solutions free of charge, supporting wounded service members in professional pilot training.
    • Continued contributions to global charities including UNICEF, Oxfam, and Action Against Hunger.

About Private-Radar
Private-Radar, based in San Sebastián de los Reyes, Community of Madrid, Spain, offers a flexible and user-friendly Flight School Management System and Aircraft Tracking System. Private-Radar enables pilot training centers of all sizes to efficiently manage every aspect of flight and ground training. Our solutions are made for students, instructors, and staff giving your organization full control of all training, administrative, and finance information. Private-Radar will allow you to simplify complex tasks such as scheduling flight and ground lessons, following student progress, reporting, invoicing, and keeping track of aircraft maintenance. You will always be compliant and ready for audits.

Source: Private-Radar
Photo Credit: Private-Radar

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Pilot Training Industry Supplier Feature – Simnest Aviation

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series we speak with Balázs Herendi – CEO of Simnest Aviation – a simulator manufacturer based in Hungary, focused on designing and manufacturing professional FSTDs.

The conversation covers:

  • Company Evolution and Achievements: Simnest Aviation, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Hungary, specializes in designing and manufacturing professional flight simulation training devices (FSTDs). The company has installed multiple simulators globally, achieving milestones such as introducing the first APS MCC training in Romania.
  • Collaborations and Strategic Partnerships: Simnest collaborates with key customers like the Danish Center Air Pilot Academy, Portuguese International Flight Academy, Norwegian Redflight Aviation, fostering long-term partnerships. It recently expanded its global footprint by partnering with Avion as its exclusive sales and service partner for the APAC region, aiming for broader international growth.
  • Innovative Training Solutions: The company integrates its expertise with the Simnest Pilot Academy to enhance understanding of ATO operations. Simnest devices are designed to optimize pilot training by offering cost-effective, high-fidelity, type-representative fixed-base simulators suitable for APS MCC and MPL programs.
  • Industry Trends and Challenges: Balázs highlighted trends such as increased reliance on type-representative devices, the growing adoption of APS MCC courses, and the use of AI, VR, and simulated ATC environments. He emphasized the industry’s challenge of balancing pilot demand with maintaining training quality amid a global pilot shortage.
  • Commitment to Safety: Simnest Aviation prioritizes safety by providing realistic training environments for cadets transitioning to jet-based aircraft. It also supports customers with end-to-end services, from device manufacturing to certification and operational documentation, offering a seamless experience for flight training organizations.

For more information:

You can find all of the AFM.aero Pilot Training Industry Interview Episodes here.

To stay up to date and get notified about all of the latest episodes from AFM you can follow us through the below platforms:

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Flight Simulator Manufacturer, China Simulation Sciences, to Participate in the 13th Civil Aviation Training & Education Summit in April 2025 in Chengdu, China

Chengdu, China – China Simulation Sciences Co., Ltd. (CSS), a leading Chinese simulator manufacturer, has announced its upcoming participation in the 13th Civil Aviation Training & Education Summit (CATES), scheduled for April 24-25, 2025, in Chengdu, China. CATES is the largest aviation and pilot training industry trade event that brings together aviation training professionals from airlines, training organizations, industry suppliers, government and regulator officials.

As a majority owned subsidiary of Juneyao Group, China Simulation Sciences Co., Ltd. (CSS) has been deeply involved in the research and development of simulation technology since 2017. Leveraging Juneyao Group’s strong foothold in the aviation industry, CSS utilizes its proprietary technology to propel the advancement of simulation equipment industrialization, thereby bolstering China’s aviation training and education efforts.

Through meticulous research and development, CSS has successfully created a range of full-flight simulators for various aircraft models, including the A320, B737, and ARJ21. Notably, the A320NEO/CEO FFS stands as China’s inaugural full-flight simulator with complete independent intellectual property rights, having impressively attained the D-level certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China in 2020.

As a valued partner of COMAC, CSS remains steadfastly committed to advancing China’s large aircraft industry. Backed by its remarkable technological research capabilities, CSS has conducted in-depth studies and implemented forward-thinking strategies for the training and education related to domestically produced large aircraft, specifically focusing on the ARJ21 and C919 projects.

With a vision of “reaching the pinnacle of simulation, embracing the technology of tomorrow,” CSS is constantly pushing boundaries. Through relentless innovation and cutting-edge research, CSS strives to meet the evolving needs of China’s civil aviation flight training in the modern era, bolstering the steadfast progression of “Smart Civil Aviation” with the might of technology.

Source: China Simulation Sciences Co., Ltd.
Photo Credit: China Simulation Sciences Co., Ltd.

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Pilot Training Industry Supplier Feature – Elite Simulation Solutions

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series we speak with Christopher Reville – Chief Commercial Officer at ELITE Simulation Solutions AG, a global provider of IFR train­ing soft­ware, flight con­trols and flight train­ing devices.

The conversation covers:

  1. Evolution and Product Range: ELITE Simulation Solutions, founded in 1987, began as a simulation software company and evolved into a global solution provider of flight training devices. They offer a wide range of products, from basic desktop simulators to advanced flight simulators for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, catering to civilian, military, and educational sectors.
  2. Customizable Solutions and Innovation: A key strength of ELITE is its ability to develop tailored solutions for clients, thanks to in-house control over both hardware and software. This agility enables the company to adapt quickly to specific customer needs, such as developing bespoke dual-pilot configurations or integrating unique avionics setups.
  3. Global Reach and Impact: With installations across the world, including in the US, Europe, Africa, and Asia, ELITE’s devices serve various organizations, from universities and flight schools to government aviation authorities. Recent projects include the delivery of an FNPT II simulator to Brno University of Technology in the Czech Republic, a Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD) for Cameroon’s Ministry of Interior Civil Aviation Authority, and an A320 FTD Level 4 simulator in Santiago, Chile.
  4. Commitment to Quality and Safety: ELITE emphasizes Swiss-engineered precision, ensuring high-quality flight models that meet and exceed regulatory standards. Their devices are designed to provide realistic training and enhance safety through accurate simulation of high-risk scenarios, thereby preparing pilots effectively.
  5. Industry Trends and Forward-Thinking Vision: The company is actively tracking trends like VR, mixed reality, and emerging aircraft types such as UAVs and EVTOLs. While cautious about adopting new technology, ELITE prioritizes meaningful advancements that improve training value, focusing on enhancing safety and cost efficiency for flight schools and aviation organizations.

For more information:

You can find all of the AFM.aero Pilot Training Industry Interview Episodes here.

To stay up to date and get notified about all of the latest episodes from AFM you can follow us through the below platforms:

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13th Civil Aviation Training & Education (CATES 2025) Scheduled for April 24-25 in Chengdu, China

The 13th Civil Aviation Training & Education (CATES 2025) is scheduled for April 24-25 in Chengdu, China. CATES is the largest aviation and pilot training industry trade event that brings together aviation training professionals from airlines, training organizations, industry suppliers, government and regulator officials.

Forecasted attendance metrics for the event include:

  • 400+ senior delegates from airlines and aviation training services providers
  • 200+ Chinese airlines decision makers
  • 30+ professional industry speakers
  • 30+ industry exhibitors

Key themes to be discussed at CATES 2025 are:

  • The Dispatcher Capability Profile and Application Based on CBTA
  • Data Driven Flight Safety
  • Competencies-Oriented FFS Training Exercise
  • Quality Management of PLM In China Southern Airlines
  • The Quality and Assurances of Initial Co-Pilot Training
  • A Unified Perspective on Safety and Training
  • Improving Personal Performance and Enhancing Training Benefits
  • Course Development for AQP
  • Multiple Parties have Proposed Training Needs, Training Developers on how to Respond while Ensuring Quality
  • The Practices and Challenges of CBTA Assessment to Improve Competency and Safety
  • How You Supporting Your Training with the Adoption or Implementation of CBTA?
  • Training Methodology & Instructors
  • Support the Pilot Training by Adoption of Mixed-EBT
  • Prioritizing Human Factors for Aviation Safety
  • Human Factors in Hybrid Team Environments: Frontiers of Humans, Automation, and Risk
  • The Necessity of Training Quality Assurance System
  • Data Collection During the EBT Training

CATES 2025 will be attended by the following airlines, namely:

  • China Airline Pilots Association
  • Air China
  • China Eastern Airlines
  • China Southern Airlines
  • China Aviation Management Institute of China (CAMIC)
  • China Commercial Aircraft Corporation (COMAC)
  • FAA
  • Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA)
  • JAL
  • Lufthansa Airlines
  • Salient
  • Emirates
  • United Airlines
  • Hainan Airlines
  • Xiamen Air
  • Shenzhen Airlines
  • Shandong Air
  • Sichuan Airlines
  • Chunqiu Airlines
  • China United Airlines
  • West Air
  • Hebei Airlines
  • Junyao Airlines
  • Tibet Airlines
  • Shanghai Airlines
  • Loongair
  • Tianjin Airlines
  • Okair
  • China Express Airlines
  • Eva Air
  • Donghai Airlines
  • Chengdu Airlines
  • Joy Air
  • Kunming Airlines
  • Capital Airlines
  • China Airline
  • Air Macau
  • Dalian Airlines
  • Qingdao Airlines
  • Ruili Airlines Co., Ltd.
  • 9 Air
  • Air Guilin
  • China Cargo Airlines
  • Air China Cargo
  • China Postal Airlines
  • SF Airlines
  • YT Airlines
  • Nanshan Jet
  • Uni-top Airlines
  • Delta
  • Emirates
  • KLM
  • Air France
  • Compass Airlines
  • Avic Xi’an Aircraft Industry Group Company Ltd.

CATES 2025 Agenda & Registration form, click here.

Attendee List of CATES 2024, click here.

Video of CATES 2024, click here.

FOR HELP WITH REGISTRATION

Source: CATES
Photo Credit: CATES

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