The signing ceremony took place in Canada during the state visit of General Secretary, President To Lam, on 24-25/9. This agreement between Vietnam Airlines and CAE Group aims to enhance cooperation in staff training, maintenance, and technical support for flight simulator systems (SIM). Both parties will also research advanced solutions and explore opportunities to invest in additional simulation infrastructure in Vietnam.

Representatives of Vietnam Airlines and CAE exchange the memorandum of understanding. Photo: TTXVN

This collaboration addresses the immense human resource pressure faced by the regional aviation industry. An Airbus report forecasts that the Asia-Pacific region will require over 1.06 million new aviation personnel by 2044. Similarly, Boeing estimates that the Southeast Asian market alone will need approximately 258,000 additional personnel by 2045. This significant demand compels airlines to proactively seek solutions for training, re-qualification, and retaining highly skilled teams to keep pace with fleet expansion.

Le Truong Giang, a Board Member of Vietnam Airlines, highlighted that this cooperation with CAE enables the airline to proactively secure high-quality human resources and gradually master modern simulation technology. He emphasized that personnel training must always be a step ahead to ensure safe operational capability for new generation aircraft.

According to Giang, expanding an airline's scale does not solely depend on aircraft acquisition. Businesses need to thoroughly prepare pilots, flight instructors, examiners, and technicians who meet international standards. "By having an in-country simulation system, Vietnam Airlines minimizes reliance on foreign training centers, saves costs, shortens the time pilots are away from operational lines, and gains more flexibility in crew scheduling," Giang shared.

Cockpit on a Vietnam Airlines aircraft. Photo: Vietnam Airlines

The cooperation between the two companies began in 2012 when Vietnam Airlines invested in its first CAE-produced A320 flight simulator. Four years later, in 2016, both parties further operationalized three new generation devices: an Airbus A320 SIM, an Airbus A350 SIM, and a Boeing 787 SIM. This asset enables the airline's Flight Training Center to fully meet the training needs for both its narrow-body and wide-body aircraft fleets.

Currently, the airline's SIM system logs tens of thousands of operating hours annually, supporting periodic, re-qualification, and upgrade training programs for approximately 2,500 pilot sessions. In 2024, Vietnam Airlines and CAE extended the operation of the A350 and B787 SIM devices until the end of 2033.

Established in 1947 in Canada, CAE Group is a leading global manufacturer of aviation equipment and training service provider. The company specializes in developing simulation technologies and full-flight simulators for both civil and defense aviation. With a large-scale training facility network in over 35 countries, CAE delivers digital-based training solutions, helping to train tens of thousands of pilots and technical personnel each year.

Thanh Thu