Market Trends of Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training and Simulation Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Middle East Civil Aviation Flight Training & Simulation Market according to our research experts:
The Simulator Training Segment held the Largest Share in 2021
The simulator training segment has accounted for the highest share in 2021 due to the increasing use of simulators by the pilot training schools, as they allow the cadets to apply theory and gain experience in skills or procedures. By minimizing the possibility of erroneous actions taken by the crew, simulator training enhances the scope of training to test an unlimited number of scenarios and actions to be taken during unfavorable flight conditions, some of which are either dangerous to work on in real flight or are forbidden to work on during the real flight. Simulation software permits the trainers to alter the flight parameters such as weather and topography to acquaint the students with a broader operational portfolio of aircraft. Such advantages offered by simulation-based training lead to training schools' investment in acquiring new and advanced simulators.
For instance, in November 2021, OxfordSaudia Flight Academy ordered two Level 5 Flight Simulation Training Devices (FSTD) from Diamond Aircraft Austria. The FSTDs are expected to be configured for DA40 NG and DA42-VI aircraft and deployed at its academy's center at King Fahad International Airport. The company currently has four FTD Diamond simulators. The regional airlines are partnering with training academies to provide long-term simulation training. In 2019, Turkish Airlines signed agreements with BAA Training and Patria to provide training to their flight cadets for three years. Such partnerships are expected to propel the market's growth in the future.
The United Arab Emirates Accounted for Highest Share in the Market in 2021
The United Arab Emirates currently dominates the market and is expected to continue its dominance over the market during the forecast period. This is primarily due to the high pilot demand from major airlines, namely, Emirates and Etihad Airways. As the air travel demand in the country began to recover gradually in 2021, the airlines announced their plans to recruit pilots, cabin crew, and engineering specialists, among others, to boost their operations to pre-pandemic levels. On this note, in October 2021, Emirates announced that as a part of its plan to boost its operational workforce, it would recruit over 6,000 staff by April 2022. Under this plan, the airline is expected to recruit more pilots (about 600), cabin crew, engineering specialists, and ground staff as it anticipates its flight operations to reach pre-pandemic levels by mid-2022.
Similarly, the flydubai recalled all the pilots and cabin crew (furloughed during the pandemic) into service from June 2021 and announced its plan to cease hiring activities before 2022. Currently, major airlines in the country, Emirates, Etihad, and flydubai, have over 400 aircraft on order with Airbus and Boeing. This is expected to generate high demand for new pilots in the country in the coming years. To cater to the short-term increase in demand for new pilots, the regional pilot training schools are increasing their fleet of training equipment. For instance, in November 2021, Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT), a joint venture of Emirates Group and CAE, announced its plan to acquire a second CAE 7000XR Series Boeing 737 MAX full-flight simulator (FFS) to expand its pilot training capacity in Dubai to cater to pilot demand flydubai's future fleet growth. The delivery of the FFS is scheduled for the end of 2022. Such factors are activated to boost the market's growth in the country in the future.
