Vertical Aerospace and CAE partner on electric flight pilot training

Credit: Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering zero-emissions aviation and CAE, a market leader in flight simulation and training, has announced that CAE will be the pilot training partner for Vertical’s launch eVTOL aircraft, the VX4.

CAE will design and develop a world-class training programme and be the exclusive training device provider, tailoring the high-fidelity, next-generation flight simulation training device for the VX4 aircraft. The innovative pilot training programme will leverage advanced technologies including Mixed Reality and Artificial Intelligence to enhance the learning experience and will help shift the training paradigm toward cost-effectiveness and scalability, while ensuring safety is paramount for Vertical and its operators.

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is expected to drive unprecedented demand for qualified, professionally trained pilots for inner-city and regional electric flights. Additionally, because CAE currently provides training products and services to many of Vertical’s industry-leading customer base, a smoother integration of new AAM pilot training programmes into their training portfolios is anticipated.

Upon the signing of a definitive agreement, Vertical and CAE will start working together three years ahead of the VX4’s targeted entry into service in 2025, a critical step towards making safe eVTOL flights a reality.

Harry Holt, Deputy CEO of Vertical said: “Vertical has built its commercial ecosystem with customers, regulators, and infrastructure partners to enable AAM and ensure we have partnerships in place to introduce safer, cleaner and quieter mobility for everyone. Bringing CAE into our unrivalled ecosystem is a key enabler to solve the training requirement for our customers, as we prepare for the VX4’s entry into service.”

Nick Leontidis, CAE’s Group President, Civil Aviation commented: “CAE’s longstanding training relationships with top-tier airlines and operators is a key differentiator for us as they expand into eVTOL operations with Vertical. They know they can count on CAE for advanced training as they venture into this new market. We are excited to join Vertical’s ecosystem and work hand in hand to build the aviation workforce of the future.”

This partnership announcement comes following Vertical’s recent announcement of progress in its certification process for the VX4, with the European Union Aviation Standards Agency (EASA) agreeing to concurrently validate the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) certification of the VX4 and the adoption of SC-VTOL as the certification basis for the aircraft. Vertical expects to reach several critical certification milestones in the coming months, as the VX4’s test flight programme begins in Summer 2022.