British Airways has powered up its newest flight simulator, taking the number used by the airline to train its pilots to 18 - the highest ever.
To mark hitting the record number the airline has released photos showing flight simulators dating back to the 1930s.
The new addition, a full-motion Airbus A320 simulator, features the latest in flight training technology, allowing pilot instructors to link their iPads to the simulator to control each training session.
British Airways’ head of flight technical and training, Captain David Thomas, said: “We’re proud to continue to provide our pilots with cutting-edge technology to train on.
“We have a long history of training our own pilots using flight simulators, which has seen huge technological advances over the decades.
“With additions like this new A320 simulator, we can continue to set the highest standards in flight safety and training that our customers expect from British Airways.”
The simulator will be used to train some of British Airways’ 3,600 pilots who fly any of the A320 family of aircraft – serving domestic and European destinations on the airline’s network.
The investment in the new simulator reflects increased demand following the airline’s introduction of new A320s, A380s, 787s and 777-300s.
British Airways’ pilot numbers have also been increasing following the success of the airline’s pilot cadet scheme, now in its third year. The programme sees newly trained pilots start their British Airways flying career on its A320 fleet.
The new A320 simulator is part of the company’s £5bn investment in new products and technology to provide the best possible flying experience for British Airways’ customers.
