A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air &amp; Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley &amp; Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Contributor - Business Aviation

James Wynbrandt

U.S.-based training provider FlightSafety International (FSI) arrives at MEBAA 2018 riding a wave of recent program developments that expand its training solutions and brings some nearer to Middle East operators.

 


FSI (Stand 449) announced in October the Dassault FalconEye Combined Vision System HUD has been incorporated into its Falcon 8X and Falcon 2000LXS simulators in Paris, as well as its Falcon 900LX simulator in Dallas in the U.S. FalconEye HUD combines synthetic, database-driven terrain mapping and actual thermal and low-light camera images into a single view that provides a greatly improved level of situational awareness to flight crews in all conditions. The course, which includes ground school and simulator training, addresses normal and abnormal operations, operating procedures and limitations in all phases of flight.

 


In October FSI also became the first company to provide Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS) to Touchdown and Rollout training for the Gulfstream G500 and other Gulfstream aircraft equipped with the Rockwell Collins HUD II and Kollsman (Elbit) EVS-II and EVS-SP. Certification for Gulfstream EFVS operations for landing and rollout enables appropriately authorized FAA-registered Part 135 operators to dispatch and begin instrument approaches when visibilities are lower than the published approach minimums using the Visual Advantage concept. Part 91 operators are also eligible for the letter of authorization. The stand-alone, FAA-approved course is offered for operators and crews on Gulfstream aircraft that have achieved EFVS to Touchdown and Rollout certification.

 


FSI also announced that same month the recent commencement of training for the newly introduced Gulfstream G500 and forthcoming G600 at its Savannah Learning Center,&nbsp; welcome news to regional operators awaiting delivery of one of the jets. The 23-day Gulfstream G500 and G600 common type-rating course uses two full-motion simulators and three new FAA level 4 qualified advanced graphical flight-deck simulators. Pilots receive 46 hours of classroom instruction, 18 hours of systems integration, eight hours in the flight training devices and 24 hours of simulator time before check ride. The curriculum reflects a reduction in classroom time and an increase in SIT and scenario-based training.

 


With the Pilatus PC-24&nbsp;entering service, FSI will offer training for the twinjet at its Learning Center in Paris, France, representing the company’s second PC-24 simulator and training location. Equipped with a Honeywell Primus Apex avionics suite, the simulator will incorporate&nbsp;synthetic vision&nbsp;and is expected to be qualified to level D and enter service by the end of 2019. Design and manufacture of the new FS1000 PC-24 sim are under way at FlightSafety’s Tulsa, Oklahoma simulator facility.

 


FSI is also highlighting in Dubai the ongoing expansion of its EASA Phased Recurrent Training program, now available at most FlightSafety locations that provide EASA training, including Farnborough and Paris.

 


In other developments of regional import since MEBAA 2016, last year FSI launched the only factory-authorized Gulfstream G650 training program located close to operators in the Middle East. Using the fifth Gulfstream G650 simulator built by FlightSafety, the EASA- and FAA-qualified level D device is installed at FSI’s Farnborough Learning Center. It features tightly integrated computer hardware and software across subsystems that allow more accurate and higher fidelity simulation than found in other current and previous generation simulators.

 


Sadly, October also marked the passing of Bruce Whitman, FSI’s longtime chairman, president, CEO, and guiding light. David Davenport and Ray Johns, both distinguished company veterans, will lead the company as co-CEOs. Davenport will also serve as president, commercial, and Johns as president, government and manufacturing.

 


In 2014 FSI and Abu Dhabi Aviation signed an MOU to establish a learning center in Abu Dhabi, with a first phase of the facility slated to open in September&nbsp;2015, but plans appear unfulfilled and FSI declined to provide an update on the project.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

More FSI Training Options for Middle East

U.S. provider offers new courses in Farnborough and Paris for Falcon, Gulfstream, Pilatus,and other platforms.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Why not teach new pilots to go around before learning how to land?

AINsight: You Can (and Should) Always Go Around

Kerry Lynch

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Most major manufacturers will be at static this year

NBAA-BACE Taking Shape with Expanded Program, Most OEMs

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers

GAO Wants High Schoolers To Take Mechanic General Test

Charlotte Bailey

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Evolving AI-augmented simulator-based approach to ‘gamify’ learning 

Saab Shaking Up Gripen Training with Project Skynapse 

Howard Hardee

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Spirit AeroSystems workers give Leeham News and Analysis the inside track 

Cutting 'Traveled Work' Delays At Spirit Critical To 737 Output

Jessica Reed

Michel Denis was named CEO of Daher,  Steve Varsano president of Flexjet, and Robert Sumwalt was the next Wright Trophy recipient

People in Aviation —September 2026

Charles Alcock

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Austrian manufacturer has yet to say which rotorcraft types it will support 

Axis Announces Plans for Helicopter Training Systems

AIN Staff

In a Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit (CALS) roundtable on retention, an aviation staffing expert and flight department leaders traded hard-won lessons on money, culture, and knowing who you’re really competing with.

More In Training and Workforce