Emirates invests $48m in pilot and crew training for Airbus A350s

Emirates airline has invested about $48m in advanced equipment and systems to train pilots and cabin crew on the Airbus A350 aircraft, which is expected to join its fleet in weeks. The Dubai-based carrier has ordered three full-flight simulators, with the fixed-base training device replicating the A350's flight deck and using visual and audio systems to make training sessions as realistic as possible, Emirates said on Thursday. The airline has so far trained about 30 pilots and 820 cabin crew members. By the end of November, more than 50 pilots will have completed their training on the A350 simulators. "With our investments in the new simulators and systems, our pilots and cabin crew are equipped, trained and supremely confident to manage any operational challenge safely and competently," Capt Bader Al Marzooqi, Emirates’ senior vice president of flight training, said. The Airbus A350 is central to Emirates' long-term strategy. The aircraft can accommodate up to 350 passengers in a standard three-class configuration, and is suitable for various needs, from short-distance flights to ultra-long-range routes of up to 18,000km non-stop. Emirates has 65 Airbus A350-900 aircraft on order. The airline aims to use them to serve ultra-long-haul destinations in the US, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand – all up to 15 hours of flying time from Dubai – following the initial launch of the wide-body jets on mainly regional routes.<br/>