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Joby Aviation Launches Pilot Training with Advanced Flight Simulator

Joby Aviation installs its first advanced flight simulator, marking progress in pilot training for commercial eVTOL service starting in 2026.

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This article is based on an official press release from Joby Aviation.

Joby Aviation Receives First Advanced Simulator, Initiating Pilot Training Phase

Joby Aviation has officially commenced the installation of its pilot training infrastructure, marking a pivotal transition from research and development to operational readiness. According to a company press release issued this week, the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) developer has received and accepted the first of two advanced flight simulators at its facility in Marina, California.

The delivery is a significant milestone in Joby’s preparation for commercial passenger service, which is targeted to begin later in 2026. The simulators, developed in partnership with aviation training leader CAE, are designed to train the workforce required to operate Joby’s all-electric air taxis.

High-Fidelity Simulation Technology

The newly delivered device is a fixed-base Level 7 Flight Training Device (FTD). It is currently being installed and will be utilized for procedural and systems Training. Joby Aviation has stated that a second unit, a Level C Full Flight Simulator (FFS), is scheduled to arrive later in 2026. The Level C simulator will offer high-fidelity motion replication across six axes, a critical requirement for the final stages of pilot Certification.

Both devices leverage advanced visual technology to create a “digital twin” of the operating environment. According to the announcement, the simulators utilize CAE’s “Prodigy Image Generator” and Epic Games’ Unreal Engine. This integration allows for the rendering of hyper-realistic 3D urban environments, including specific heliports and city skylines, displayed across a 300-by-130-degree field of view.

Partnership with CAE

The simulators are the result of a multi-year collaboration between Joby and CAE (NYSE: CAE). The Partnerships aims to build training devices that accurately replicate the unique flight physics of the Joby S4 aircraft, which takes off vertically like a helicopter before transitioning to wing-borne flight.

“This delivery validates the regulatory pathway for the entire eVTOL industry. It proves that high-fidelity simulation can substitute for in-aircraft training, a crucial economic factor for scaling air taxi operations.”

, Industry Research Report summarizing the announcement

Regulatory Alignment and Workforce Scaling

The arrival of this training hardware aligns with recent regulatory updates from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In October 2024, the FAA finalized the Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) for powered-lift pilot certification. A key provision of this regulation allows pilots to log significant training hours in qualified simulators rather than requiring a dual-control training aircraft.

This regulatory framework is essential for Joby’s operational model, as the Joby S4 is designed as a single-pilot aircraft. By utilizing the Level C FFS, pilots can meet experience requirements without the need for a specialized trainer aircraft.

Once both simulators are fully operational, Joby Aviation projects the facility will support the training of up to 250 pilots per year. This capacity is intended to support the company’s planned commercial networks in markets such as New York, Los Angeles, and Dubai.

Company Background and Certification Status

Joby Aviation is currently in Stage 4 (Type Inspection Authorization) of the FAA’s five-stage certification process. This phase involves FAA pilots flying the aircraft to verify safety standards. The company has already secured its Part 141 Pilot School Certificate, authorizing it to operate a flight academy, and is actively pursuing its Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate for commercial on-demand operations.

AirPro News Analysis

The Strategic Advantage of Digital Twins

The use of “digital twin” technology in pilot training represents a significant safety and strategic advantage for Joby. By replicating complex urban wind flows, battery management scenarios during transition flight, and emergency procedures, pilots can experience dangerous scenarios in the simulator that cannot be safely practiced in a real aircraft. Furthermore, securing Level 7 and Level C qualified devices provides Joby with a “first-mover” advantage in workforce development, potentially mitigating pilot shortages as the industry scales.


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Photo Credit: Joby Aviation

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Training & Certification

CPaT Global Partners With Nippon Cargo Airlines for 747-8 Training

CPaT Global will provide digital pilot training solutions to Nippon Cargo Airlines, covering approximately 200 Boeing 747-8 crew members.

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Aviation training provider CPaT Global has secured a partnerships with Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) to supply digital pilot training solutions for the Japanese freight operator’s Boeing 747-8 freighter crews.

In a press release issued on September 1, 2026, CPaT Global confirmed the agreement will support approximately 200 pilots. The partnership provides NCA with a centralized digital learning environment that integrates CPaT’s proprietary courseware with the airline’s existing training resources.

Digital Integration for Flight Crews

Under the agreement, NCA will utilize the CPaT Learning Management System (LMS) alongside the developer’s General Subjects courseware. The airline will also implement CPaT Invent and Certificate Builder. These tools allow the operator to incorporate SCORM-compatible third-party content into a single training system.

“We are proud to welcome Nippon Cargo Airlines as a CPaT training partner and expand our support for the aviation community in Japan,” said Capt. Greg Darrow, Vice President of Sales at CPaT Global.

Darrow added that the selection demonstrates the flexibility required by airlines from modern learning platforms, noting the company’s intent to build further relationships with operators throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Corporate Restructuring Under ANA Holdings

The training partnership follows a period of significant corporate transition for the Narita-headquartered cargo airline, which was established in 1978. On August 1, 2025, ANA Holdings Inc. finalized its acquisitions of NCA.

According to reporting by CargoForwarder Global, ANA Holdings initiated a strategic reorganization on April 1, 2026, to merge its separate freight units, including NCA, NCA Japan, and ANA Cargo. Under this restructuring, NCA continues as the operating arm and maintains its own Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to fly its fleet of eight Boeing 747-8 freighters.

AirPro News analysis

We view NCA’s investment in a new digital training infrastructure as a practical step to ensure operational continuity during its integration into the broader ANA Group. By adopting a centralized LMS while retaining its distinct AOC, the cargo operator can standardize recurrent training for its 747-8 crews without disrupting its specialized freight operations.

Sources: CPaT Global

Photo Credit: CPaT Global

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Training & Certification

Acron Aviation CTS Signs Boeing 737 Training Deal With ASL Australia

Acron Aviation CTS secures preferred supplier agreement for Boeing 737 Type Rating training with ASL Airlines Australia through 2028.

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Acron Aviation Commercial Training Solutions (CTS) has secured a multi-year preferred supplier agreement to provide Boeing 737 Type Rating training for ASL Airlines Australia through the end of 2028.

Announced in a September 2, 2026, press release, the contract formalizes a long-term training pipeline following an initial program completed in the first half of 2026. The instruction will continue to be delivered at the CTS London Training Centre.

Tailored Boeing 737 Training Curriculum

The agreement encompasses comprehensive Boeing 737 Type Rating instruction and includes provisions for Airline Pilot Standards Multi-Crew Cooperation (APS MCC) training. A key component of the curriculum is the integration of ASL Airlines Australia’s specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This tailored approach is designed to ensure pilots transition directly into line operations upon completion of the simulator phases.

Captain Nathan Burkitt, Head of Training and Checking for Flight Operations at ASL Airlines Australia, stated that trainee feedback on the initial courses has been highly favorable.

“Feedback from our trainees on the course, facilities, instructors and overall training environment has been overwhelmingly positive, with particular praise for the instructors’ professionalism, knowledge and commitment to helping every pilot succeed,” Burkitt said.

Corporate Transition and Future Operations

The finalization of this training contract occurs during a period of corporate restructuring for the training provider. On August 26, 2026, parent company Acron Technologies announced a definitive agreement to divest its Commercial Training Solutions business to FlightSafety International (FSI). That transaction includes the Training Systems, Training Services, and Aviation Academy portfolios, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Despite the pending acquisition, CTS leadership emphasized operational continuity and customer focus. Patrick Davis, Vice President and General Manager of the London Training Centre for Acron Aviation CTS, noted the agreement reflects the airline’s confidence in the facility’s instructional quality.

“We’re delighted that ASL Airlines Australia has extended its partnership with Acron Aviation and selected us as a preferred supplier for Boeing 737 Type Rating training through to the end of 2028,” Davis said.

AirPro News analysis

We view the timing of this multi-year agreement as a positive indicator for the impending integration of the CTS business into FlightSafety International. Securing a guaranteed training pipeline through 2028 provides immediate revenue visibility for the London Training Centre under its new ownership. The commitment from ASL Airlines Australia demonstrates that the pending corporate handover has not deterred operator confidence in the facility’s ability to deliver specialized, SOP-integrated Boeing 737 instruction.

Sources: Acron Aviation

Photo Credit: Acron Aviation

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Training & Certification

Boeing CBTA Learning Library Adopted by Thailand CAAT

Thailand’s CAAT becomes the first aviation regulator to adopt Boeing’s CBTA framework nationally, targeting 66,000 new pilots in Southeast Asia.

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The Boeing Company and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announced a collaboration on September 1, 2026, to deploy Boeing’s Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) Learning Library across the nation’s flight training organizations.

The initiative marks the first time an aviation regulator has adopted the Boeing CBTA framework across an entire national ecosystem. According to a Boeing press release, the rollout is designed to standardize pilot development and enhance aviation safety amid a projected demand for 66,000 new pilots in Southeast Asia over the next two decades.

Transitioning to competency-based standards

The September announcement follows preparatory work conducted earlier in the year. On March 30 and 31, 2026, CAAT and Boeing Global Services hosted dedicated workshops in Bangkok for Flight Training Organizations (FTO) and Maintenance Training Organizations (MTO). These sessions focused on transitioning the Thai aviation training sector from traditional content-based instruction to a competency-based model, aligning with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

The CBTA methodology prioritizes the development and assessment of specific pilot competencies rather than strictly measuring flight hours or rote memorization. By implementing the Boeing Learning Library at the regulatory level, CAAT aims to ensure a uniform baseline of training quality across all approved flight schools in the country.

“This collaboration represents an important step in advancing pilot training standards in Thailand. By leveraging Boeing’s expertise and CBTA learning solutions, we can further strengthen the quality of pilot training and support the continued growth of Thailand’s aviation industry,” said Iratrachar Amornpipat, Personnel Licensing Department Manager for CAAT.

Addressing regional pilot demand

The ecosystem-wide rollout in Thailand occurs against the backdrop of significant projected growth in the Asia-Pacific aviation market. Boeing estimates that Southeast Asia will require 66,000 new commercial pilots over the next 20 years to support fleet expansion and replace retiring aviators.

Meeting this demand requires scaling training infrastructure without compromising safety margins. The integration of standardized, data-driven training libraries is intended to streamline the cadet-to-first-officer pipeline.

Chris Broom, Vice President of Boeing Commercial Training Solutions, stated that the manufacturer is focused on equipping future pilots with the specific skills required for modern airline operations. He noted that the collaboration will help cadets safely and efficiently operate in an increasingly complex aviation environment.

AirPro News analysis

We view this regulatory-level adoption of a manufacturer’s training library as a notable shift in how pilot training standards are implemented. Historically, CBTA frameworks have been adopted on an airline-by-airline basis, often driven by the specific operational requirements of a carrier. By integrating the Boeing CBTA Learning Library at the CAAT level, Thailand is effectively standardizing the foundational training phase across multiple independent flight schools. This approach reduces the training burden on airlines, as cadets will enter the commercial sector with a uniform, ICAO-compliant competency baseline already established.

Sources: The Boeing Company

Photo Credit: Boeing

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