Airbus partners with Civil Aviation Flight University of China to advance pilot training

Guanghan, 24 February 2023 - Airbus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC) to jointly develop the first ab-initio flight training standard in China. This move is in response to new flight training requirements by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).   

“Expanding its flight training footprint in China not only reflects Airbus’ commitment to supporting the efficient and safe operation of all its aircraft, but also enables Airbus to accompany its airline customers, in both anticipating and preparing the future,” said George Xu, EVP of Airbus and CEO of Airbus China. “Airbus is pleased to be partnering with the Civil Aviation Flight University of China and to be further strengthening the working relationship it has with the many Chinese stakeholders within the civil aviation industry in China.” 

Ab-initio flight training is the crucial first step towards becoming an operationally ready professional pilot, involving the study of basic flight theory and techniques. The Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC) is the largest ab-initio flight training institution globally  and a key training ground for Chinese pilots. CAFUC’s comprehensive ab-initio flight training techniques and management represent the highest standards of flight training in China. 

In 2020, the CAAC launched a 10 year flight training reform called the Pilot Professionalism Lifecycle Management System (PLM) based on  the new training concept of  Competency Based Training and Assessment (CBTA).This innovative training approach places a greater emphasis on the pilots’ ability to handle unexpected events and integrates a deeper focus on the non-technical skills, compared to traditional flight training methods. 

Airbus will integrate its advanced training concept and CBTA training techniques, while CAFUC will bring its training experience and knowledge of China’s civil aviation operating conditions. 

In 2022, Airbus successfully collaborated with Chinese airlines on an Evidence Based Training (EBT) programme, based on the CBTA concept, which has already received positive feedback.