Wizz Air, renowned as Europe’s fastest-growing and most environmentally sustainable airline, has achieved a significant milestone by embracing cutting-edge technology for pilot training. The airline has become the first in the industry to introduce both the Mobile Airbus Training experience (MATe) suite and Virtual Procedure Trainer (VPT) technology.
This integration of state-of-the-art training solutions at Wizz Air’s training center in Budapest represents a game-changer for pilots undergoing recurrent and initial Type Training. The MATe suite, operating as a cloud-based service platform, offers comprehensive e-Training and examinations across various pilot training categories. Complementing this, the Virtual Procedure Trainer provides an immersive coaching experience within a virtual cockpit setting, allowing trainees to familiarize themselves with Airbus cockpit features and procedures individually.
The approval from the Hungarian Civil Aviation Authority for the VR tool and the A320 Type Transition Course program underscores Wizz Air’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of training. The endorsement ensures that pilots receive training aligned with the exacting standards set by Wizz Air’s Approved Training Organization (ATO).
The introduction of these Virtual Reality-driven training features was unveiled at Wizz Air’s training center in Budapest on March 20th, garnering attention from industry insiders. Coinciding with this launch, Wizz Air conducted research revealing a notable confidence among respondents in their ability to land a plane, highlighting the effectiveness of the new training tools.
Wizz Air’s dedication to training excellence is evident from its investments in state-of-the-art facilities since 2013 when it inaugurated its first training center in Budapest. The airline has expanded its training capabilities over the years, with new centers in Budapest and Rome equipped with cutting-edge equipment, including Full Flight Simulators, Fixed-base Simulators, Cabin Evacuation Trainers, and Fire Trainers.
Attila Tóvári, Head of ATO at Wizz Air said: “We are incredibly pleased and grateful to have partnered with Airbus to create and receive CAA approval for our new programme and VR training tool. This market-leading technology will not only revolutionise the way we train our staff but the whole industry as well.
“We care deeply about our flight crews and we believe in investing in the best technology to achieve the highest and safest training standards in the market. Our flight and cabin crews are often the face of the airline to our passengers and we believe that these new tools will enable them to perform at the highest standard.”
Charbel Youzkatli, Head of Commercial Services Europe at Airbus, said:
“We are delighted to have Wizz Air as the first customer to use both Airbus digital VR-driven flight training solutions MATe Suite and VPT.
“These solutions will actively contribute to Wizz Air’s digital journey in the area of pilot training. MATe Suite and VPT training solutions offer pilots an immersive experience and more flexible and efficient training. This setup also allows optimizing the overall Type Rating course whilst maintaining the highest Airbus training standards.”