Pan Am Flight Academy Visits Copa Airlines Training Center in Panama

Panama – Pan Am Flight Academy Chief Commercial Officer Federico Flores Navarro has visited Copa Airlines’ training facilities in Panama, including its Boeing 737 MAX simulator operation, and said the Miami-based training provider expects to continue supporting the carrier as a training partner.

• Copa Airlines currently operates three full-motion flight simulators at its training facility in Panama’s City of Knowledge, alongside additional Flight Simulation Training Devices. Its Boeing 737 MAX Level D full-flight simulator has been operational since May 2019 and was upgraded with a 737 MAX 9 data package in November 2021 to reflect the airline’s fleet configuration.
• The airline is continuing to expand its synthetic training capacity. AFM previously reported that Copa contracted MPS in 2026 for an additional Boeing 737-8 MAX Level 5 Flight Training Device, scheduled for installation at the Panama City training center in Q4 2026. Copa already operates an MPS MAX device used for initial type rating and recurrent training.
• The visit also highlighted a historical link between the two organisations. Copa was established in 1947 by Panamanian investors together with Pan American World Airways, which contributed capital as well as technical and economic support. Pan American sold its stake in Copa in 1971.
• Pan Am Flight Academy traces its own operation to Pan American World Airways’ pilot training division. Pan American opened its Miami pilot training facility in 1980, and the training operation continued after the airline ceased operations; Pan Am Flight Academy describes itself as the only surviving division of the former carrier.

About Pan Am Flight Academy
Pan Am Flight Academy is a Miami, Florida-based commercial aviation training provider offering type ratings, ATP-CTP, MCC and other pilot and airline training services. Its current portfolio includes more than 20 full-flight simulators with training capability covering aircraft including the Airbus A320 and A330; Boeing 737 Classic, NG and MAX; Boeing 747, 757, 767 and 777; and Saab 340.

About Copa Airlines
Copa Airlines is a Panama City-based carrier within Copa Holdings, operating an all-Boeing 737 fleet from its Hub of the Americas in Panama. Copa Holdings ended Q2 2026 with 131 aircraft; its latest fully published detailed breakdown, at December 31, 2025, comprised 47 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, 67 737-800s, nine 737-700s and two 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters.

Source: Federico Flores Navarro (Pan Am Flight Academy)