FlightSafety expands G650 training amid growing demand

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Aviation International News | Aviation International News

By Sky Industry News

Jul 1, 2024

FlightSafety International continues to advance its training programs for the Gulfstream G650 aircraft, maintaining a long-standing partnership with Gulfstream that dates back 50 years. This collaboration allows FlightSafety to develop simulators and training modules up to two years before a new model is certificated, providing accurate and timely information to customers.

"Our 50-year partnership with Gulfstream provides unparalleled pre-certification access to engineering and data," said Nathan Speiser, FSI executive vice president of sales and marketing. He highlighted that the company's G700 simulators received Level C interim certification almost a year before the aircraft's official certification in March 2024.

Richard Meikle, FSI executive vice president of operations, explained how FlightSafety assists in developing simulators by using Gulfstream's cockpit layouts and flight test data. "Once they’ve built the cockpit layout, then we’ll build a copy using the same components," he said.

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FSI offers over 45 G650-specific pilot and maintenance courses across various locations in the United States and Europe. These courses benefit from high-fidelity systems knowledge directly from Gulfstream. "We’re situated on the Gulfstream campus just across the airport from the engineering research and development group," Meikle added.

FlightSafety also trains Gulfstream's own pilots on their aircraft. "Gulfstream sends their test, production, and demo pilots to us for training," Meikle stated.

The company has developed specialty courses like controller pilot data link communication (CPDLC) and advanced upset prevention recovery training (UPRT), among others. Additionally, FlightSafety instructors maintain currency on airframes by flying as contract pilots, allowing them to share insights with clients.

Speiser noted that customers often reach out with technical questions after completing their initial training because they recognize FlightSafety as an expert resource: "They may have been in for recurrent training three months ago... 'man, I really know who the expert is – it’s FlightSafety.'"

In response to increased demand for pilots and maintenance personnel post-pandemic, FlightSafety has implemented changes in scheduling methodologies to increase capacity. Clients can attend online ground school through LiveLearning before hands-on simulator sessions at Learning Centers.

"We’ve implemented some changes in our scheduling methodologies that have dramatically increased capacity," said Meikle regarding accommodating more trainees.

FlightSafety also collaborates with GE Aerospace for insights into flight operational quality assurance (FOQA) data points which help enhance curricula addressing industry issues like runway excursions.

With global airline capacity returning to pre-pandemic levels by late 2023, there is heightened demand for initial training as business aviation grows alongside commercial airlines struggling with staffing shortages due partly due pandemic-related shifts within industries outside aviation itself.