Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has upgraded its commercial flight training capabilities with the installation of a new B737-8 Max simulator. The new device, which was purchased from CAE, a premier provider in flight training and simulation, features the latest technology, allowing the airline to increase its training capacity, while meeting the highest international standards. The simulator is located in the Oman Air Flight Training Centre at the company’s headquarters in Muscat.

Captain Nasser Al Salmi, Chief Operating Officer at Oman Air, said, “The new upgrade represents an important milestone in Oman Air’s growth trajectory, underpinning our strategic vision to expand our network and attract the top talent to our workforce. The B737-8 Max is a mainstay of our fleet, and the new simulator will enable us to optimise our operational efficiency and ensure significant cost savings, while providing the highest quality training to our pilots and crew. With this latest advancement, we are confident in our ability to provide unparalleled service to our guests, while maintaining our position as a leading airline in the region.”

As the first of its kind such facility in Oman, the Centre has provided pilots and cabin crew with industry-leading qualifications since 2016. By providing in-country training that would otherwise have been conducted elsewhere, it has contributed significantly to the socio-economic objectives of Oman’s 2040 Vision. Meanwhile, Oman Air continues to focus on attracting Omanis, with seven pilots and 63 cabin crew joining the airline in the first quarter of 2023 alone. The airline’s current Omanisation rate stands at 75% in total, which reaches as high as 100% for male cabin crew and 81% for pilots, and it continues to conduct recruitment drives and cadet training programmes with the aim of increasing the number of Omanis in the aviation industry.