GATWICK, U.K. – The Boeing 777X program has cleared a pivotal regulatory hurdle as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued initial qualification certificates for 777-9 flight training devices.
This dual-agency approval transitions the 777-9 from a flight-test prototype toward operational reality, allowing the commencement of regulator-approved pilot training curriculum.
State-of-the-Art Synthetic Training
Developed in a multi-year partnership with CAE, the training suite located at Boeing’s Gatwick campus includes a Level D Full-Flight Simulator (FFS) and advanced Flight Training Devices (FTD). These systems are engineered to mirror the 777-9’s complex flight dynamics, folding wingtip logic, and updated avionics.
“Securing these approvals is a foundational step for our customers’ operational readiness,” said Capt. Gary Mandy, 777X Chief Technical Pilot. “The immersive environment ensures that flight crews are proficient in the advanced systems unique to the 777-9 before the first airframe is delivered.”
Driving Fleet Commonality
A core selling point of the 777-9 is its flight deck “DNA.” Boeing has designed the interface to bridge the gap between the heritage 777 and the 787 Dreamliner, reducing the “Differences Training” time for airlines.
Chris Broom, VP of Commercial Training Solutions at Boeing Global Services, noted that the qualification underscores Boeing’s commitment to meeting stringent global regulatory standards while delivering high-fidelity training solutions.
What Happens Next?
With initial qualification secured, regulatory authorities will now use these devices to:
- Validate Courseware: Finalize the specific training manuals and maneuvers required for a 777-9 Type Rating.
- Customer Training: Open the doors for “Launch Customer” pilots to begin their transition training later this year.
“This is the result of years of collaborative engineering between CAE and Boeing,” added Alexandre Prevost, President of Civil Aviation at CAE. “We are now ready to roll out these simulators to our mutual customers globally.”
