The airliner simulation business is still dominated by three companies that provide 90% of the devices sold. CAE, L-3 Link Simulation & Training UK and FlightSafety International have market shares of 57%, 22% and 11% respectively. FlightSafety International specialises in business jets and smaller aircraft that have not been included in this analysis, but the company is a major provider of simulation devices for Bombardier and Embraer regional aircraft – product lines that account for 80% of its airliner simulation sales.
Flightglobal’s figures record a total of 1,232 commercial simulators currently in operation, a number that is unchanged from this time last year. North America is where 35% of these devices are based, while Asia-Pacific and Europe each show a 26% share.
In terms of simulator operations, CAE leads the field, operating 170 airliner devices in 25 countries, a 14% share of the global civil training market. FlightSafety International operates 6% of the world’s devices, in five countries, while Boeing Flight Services and American Airlines Flight Academy each account for 5%.
A short half – 46% – of the world’s simulators cover Boeing aircraft; Airbus types are 34%. Embraer and Bombardier each represent 6% of the market, while ATR counts for 3% of commercial aircraft simulated. When it comes to aircraft types, the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families – NG and classic variants combined – dominate, with 22% and 19% respective market shares. Simulators for the A330/A340, 777 and 747 widebodies have shares of 8%, 6% and 5% of the overall marketplace.
New devices
According to Flightglobal’s new census, the latest civil simulators to come into service in the first quarter of 2016 included five CAE devices, including an A350 for China Airlines Flight Training Center and a 787 for Hainan Airlines. In addition, the FlightSafety International facility in St Louis added an Embraer 170 simulator to its operations.
Recent contracts
CAE announced at the 2016 Singapore air show in February that it had signed a training equipment contract with Lion Air, including the sale of five full-flight simulators – three Boeing 737 Max, one A320neo and one ATR72-600. The delivery of the training equipment will begin in February 2017 to the airline’s training centres.
Other developments
The Singapore-based Airbus Asia Training Centre (AATC), a joint venture between Airbus and Singapore Airlines, opened in April, becoming the fourth Airbus flightcrew training centre worldwide, alongside Toulouse, Miami and Beijing. The $100 million training facility at Seletar Aerospace Park currently offers five full-flight simulators, including one A350, one A380, two A330s and one A320s. At full capability, the centre will operate eight full-flight simulators, with two more simulator bays available for potential future development.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
