Bombardier Inc. inaugurated its first dedicated in-house skills development facility for United States aircraft technicians on October 15, 2026, anchoring an approximately $50 million investment in its Wichita, Kansas, operations.

The North American Learning Center and an expanded wheel and tire shop are designed to address industry-wide skilled labor constraints by internalizing mechanic training and boosting component repair capacity. In a press release issued on October 15, the Canadian manufacturer stated the investment ensures a steady pipeline of qualified personnel to support its growing network of 10 American service centers.

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Training infrastructure and capacity

The newly opened North American Learning Center represents a strategic shift for Bombardier in how it prepares its aftermarket workforce. The facility features a retired Bombardier Global 5000 fuselage mounted on jack stands. This setup allows students to practice maintenance procedures on an actual airframe without the risk of damaging a customer aircraft.

According to reporting by Aviation International News and the Wichita Business Journal, the center will host two-week training courses for cohorts of up to 40 students. Over the next 12 months, Bombardier expects approximately 250 newly hired aircraft technicians and mechanics to pass through the curriculum.

The facility also incorporates dedicated back shops where trainees practice foundational aviation maintenance skills, including sheet metal fabrication, safety wire twisting, and digital manual navigation. Bombardier plans to expand the curriculum in the future to include advanced maintenance training and interior removal and installation courses.

Component repair expansion

Alongside the training center, the $50 million investment funded a significant modernization of the Wichita site’s wheel and tire shop. The upgraded facility is projected to double its throughput from 2,300 units last year to 5,000 units this year.

Once fully ramped up, the expanded shop will have the capacity to service 15,000 wheels and tires annually. This increased Component Repair and Overhaul (CR&O) capability is intended to directly support the company’s distributed service network across the country.

Paul Sislian, Executive Vice President of Aircraft Sales and Bombardier Aftermarket Services, highlighted the dual focus of the investment.

“Our approximately $50 million investment brings together important initiatives across the site, from the new Learning Center to expanded wheel and tire capabilities, strengthening both our people and our operations,” Sislian said. “This commitment to Wichita’s future will deepen the expertise and capabilities that will allow us to deliver an even stronger experience for our customers, while position the site for continued growth.”

Transitioning the Air Capital footprint

The October 15, 2026, inauguration marks the latest phase in Bombardier’s repositioning of its Wichita footprint. Known historically as the “Air Capital of the World,” the city was the manufacturing home of the Learjet program for six decades.

Bombardier announced the end of Learjet production on February 11, 2021, to focus resources on its more profitable Challenger and Global aircraft families. The final Learjet 75 rolled off the Wichita assembly line on March 28, 2022.

Rather than drawing down its presence following the end of aircraft manufacturing at the site, Bombardier designated the one-million-square-foot facility as its United States headquarters on April 19, 2022. The location also became the base for the newly launched Bombardier Defense division, alongside an existing major service center and flight test center.

Today, Bombardier employs 1,500 people in Kansas out of a total United States workforce of 3,500. The company reports an annual supplier spend of $2.5 billion across the country.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, who attended the inauguration alongside Lieutenant Governor David Toland, noted the state’s ongoing relationship with the manufacturer.

“Since 2019, my administration has partnered with Bombardier to build up the company’s presence in Wichita, which today now includes the new Learning Center, Bombardier Group’s U.S. headquarters, home of Bombardier Defense and the employment of 1,500 Kansans,” Kelly said.

AirPro News analysis

The aviation aftermarket is currently constrained by a severe shortage of skilled labor. By moving technician training in-house and simultaneously expanding component repair capacity, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like Bombardier are acknowledging that physical hangar space is no longer the primary bottleneck to aftermarket growth. We view this $50 million investment as a defensive strategy to protect service revenue. If an OEM cannot guarantee a steady supply of qualified mechanics and overhauled components, its expanded service centers cannot operate at capacity. Internalizing the training pipeline reduces reliance on third-party technical schools and ensures new hires are immediately productive on specific airframes like the Global 5000.

The FAA has approved FlightSafety International’s new Gulfstream G600 and G700 convertible Level D Full-Flight Simulator, establishing the first dual-configuration training device for the aircraft types in the United States.

Announced in a company press release on October 1, 2026, the approval allows the training provider to serve operators of both the Gulfstream GVII and GVIII platforms from a single device at its Long Beach, California, facility. The certification addresses a growing domestic requirement for pilot training capacity as the G700 fleet expands.

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Expanding domestic training capacity

The new simulator was engineered and manufactured at FlightSafety International’s facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, before installation at the Long Beach Learning Center. The convertible design allows the device to switch between G600 and G700 configurations, optimizing scheduling for type-rated pilots.

Ben Carter, Executive Vice President of Learning Center Operations at FlightSafety International, stated that the new convertible simulator reflects the company’s commitment to providing innovative training solutions.

“By enabling multiple aircraft configurations within a single device, we are helping customers optimize training access while maintaining the highest standards of fidelity and safety,” Carter said.

The Long Beach approval follows a similar certification in Asia. In August 2026, the FAA certified the company’s other G600 and G700 convertible device in Singapore for G600 training, which currently serves regional operators.

Technical specifications and capabilities

The Long Beach device is certified as a Level D Full-Flight Simulator, the highest level of flight simulator qualification, requiring a comprehensive aerodynamic model and a full motion platform.

The simulator is equipped with the company’s proprietary VITAL 1150 image generator and a 42-inch electric motion base. The system supports advanced training requirements, specifically including steep approach operations for the G600.

Gulfstream fleet expansion and training demand

The introduction of the convertible simulator aligns with the operational growth of Gulfstream’s ultra-long-range business jet portfolio. The G600 entered service in August 2019, establishing a mature operator base requiring recurrent training.

Demand for G700 training is currently accelerating following the aircraft’s recent entry into service. The FAA granted type certification for the G700 on March 29, 2024, and Gulfstream commenced customer deliveries on April 23, 2024.

FlightSafety International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway since 1996, is marking its 75th anniversary in 2026. The company provides training to aviation professionals from more than 170 countries and operates one of the largest global fleets of advanced flight simulators.

AirPro News analysis

We view the deployment of convertible simulators as a necessary capital efficiency strategy for training providers managing the transition between aircraft generations. Because the G700 fleet is still in its early delivery phase, a dedicated G700 simulator might experience lower utilization rates in the near term. By combining GVII and GVIII configurations into a single Level D device, FlightSafety International can maintain high utilization through the established G600 market while simultaneously absorbing the growing wave of initial type-rating demand for the G700.

Airbus Helicopters has integrated the civil-certified Airbus H160 into the flight test training fleet at the École du Personnel Navigant d’Essais et de Réception (EPNER) in Istres, France, modernizing the French Defence Procurement Agency’s training capabilities ahead of the military H160M Guépard’s introduction.

Announced by Airbus on October 5, 2026, the delivery transforms the medium twin-engine helicopter into a dedicated flying classroom. The platform replaces legacy aircraft that have served the school since the 1980s, providing test pilots and flight test engineers with a modern avionics suite to prepare for the next generation of French military rotorcraft.

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Modernizing flight test training

EPNER, operating under the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA), trains test pilots, flight test engineers, mechanics, and air traffic controllers. The curriculum is rigorous, requiring trainees to complete 400 hours of theoretical instruction and over 100 hours of flight testing. To meet these demands, Airbus Helicopters and the DGA collaborated to install a dedicated flight test system on the Airbus H160, enabling real-time data monitoring and system evaluation during training flights.

Patrice, Deputy Director of EPNER, noted the technological leap the new aircraft provides for the institution’s curriculum.

“The H160 is gradually integrated into the programme for new trainees. As it’s brand new, it benefits from an array of new technologies. This enables the school to remain at the forefront of training, using all of the helicopter’s new faculties to test performance, flight qualities and onboard systems,” Patrice said.

The upgrade in cockpit technology is a primary driver for the acquisition. Thomas, a Flight Test Maintenance Technician at EPNER, highlighted the specific benefits of the modernized flight deck. “There is a real evolution in avionics with the H160, which opens an enlarged panel of training capabilities to EPNER,” he stated.

Transitioning from legacy platforms

The introduction of the Airbus H160 marks a generational shift for the Istres-based school. According to reporting by The Defence Blog, the Airbus H160 replaces the Dauphin SA 365 N, a legacy platform that EPNER has utilized since the mid-1980s. The transition to a modern architecture is critical for teaching contemporary certification standards and flight test methodologies.

Gwénaël, a Helicopter Experimental Test Pilot at the DGA, emphasized the core mission of the school’s graduates and the necessity of training on current-generation equipment.

“A flight test pilot is firstly a pilot. The main difference is that they fly on modified aircraft or brand new aircraft to certify conformity to regulatory or contractual requirements,” Gwénaël explained.

Paving the way for the H160M Guépard

The civil Airbus H160’s arrival at EPNER serves as a direct preparatory step for the French Armed Forces’ Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) programme. In December 2021, France officially ordered the militarized variant, designated the Airbus H160M Guépard. The French Ministry of Armed Forces plans to acquire 169 of the helicopters to replace five different legacy types currently operating across the French Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force.

Airbus launched the flight test campaign for the Airbus H160M Guépard on July 24, 2025. By training on the civil Airbus H160 now, DGA and military test crews will be fully qualified on the platform’s baseline systems before the Guépard enters service. The military variant is expected to begin replacing older helicopters in 2027 and 2028, following the conclusion of its dedicated certification campaign.

The Airbus H160 platform has also been expanding its footprint in French public service. In December 2025, Airbus delivered the first Airbus H160 configured for the French Gendarmerie Nationale, further standardizing the domestic fleet around the new medium twin-engine design.

AirPro News analysis

We view the integration of the civil Airbus H160 into EPNER’s fleet as a pragmatic risk-reduction strategy for the broader HIL programme. By familiarizing test crews and maintenance personnel with the Airbus H160’s baseline architecture years before the Airbus H160M Guépard reaches operational units, the DGA minimizes the training burden typically associated with fielding a new aircraft type. The concurrent deployment of the Airbus H160 to the Gendarmerie Nationale and EPNER demonstrates a concerted effort by the French government to consolidate its domestic rotorcraft operations around a single, modern Airbus platform, which will likely yield long-term maintenance and training efficiencies across multiple state agencies.