[Report] Visiting Korean Air's "Cradle of Safety" Where 5,000 Pilots Have Trained

Flight Training Center to Operate 30 FFS Units by 2030, Training 20,000 Pilots Annually
New Engine Factory the Size of 20 Soccer Fields Built with 578 Billion Won Investment
In-house Engine Maintenance Capacity to Increase from 134 to 500 Units

"On the first day of Full Flight Simulator (FFS) training, we conduct an evaluation, and on the second day, we proceed with the training itself. This is to accurately assess the pilot's actual abilities."

Flight crew members conducting simulated flight training on a Full Flight Simulator (FFS). Korean Air

On April 15, at the Korean Air Flight Training Center in Unbuk District, Jung-gu, Incheon, Kim Kanghyun, Head of the Flight Training Center, explained Korean Air’s rigorous and distinctive flight crew training system. Korean Air has adopted the approach of conducting the evaluation first, followed by focused training to address any shortcomings, rather than training first and then evaluating. This is because if the evaluation is done after training, it becomes difficult to accurately verify whether the crew member can truly fly safely.

Opened in 2016, the Korean Air Flight Training Center is the largest flight training facility in the country, with three floors above ground and a total floor area of 8,023 square meters. Here, both new and current flight crew members undergo safety training designed to prepare them for real flight situations. According to aviation regulations, Korean Air flight crew members are required to complete two regular flight trainings and one Special Purpose Operational Training (SPOT) session each year. Except for certain inspection days, the center operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and last year alone, more than 5,000 pilots completed training at this facility.

The center is equipped with a total of 12 FFS units for different aircraft types, providing a cockpit-like environment for simulated flight. FFS is an essential training device not only for flight education, but also for learning emergency response procedures. By replicating the realism of actual flight, it aims to enhance pilots’ operational skills and real-world competency.

Flight crew members use FFS to focus on responding to complex abnormal situations such as engine malfunctions or various system failures. The lower part of the FFS is fitted with hydraulic and electrical systems to generate vibration and tilt, allowing pilots to experience the subtle movements associated with diverse flight scenarios.

Inside Korean Air's Second Engine Test Cell (ETC). Photo by Youngchan Choi

Upon entering the FFS, it faithfully recreated the actual aircraft cockpit environment—from the instrument panels and seating arrangement to various control buttons and lighting. The captain who was training inside the FFS practiced a wide range of scenarios, from takeoff and landing to engine fire emergencies, in a highly realistic manner. When the engine fire alarm sounded, the pilot calmly executed emergency procedures and then activated the fire suppression system.

Korean Air is investing approximately 1.2 trillion won to build the "Future Air Mobility (UAM) and Aviation Safety Research and Development Center" in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with full operations targeted for May 2030. After the launch of the integrated airline, the center is expected to serve as a core infrastructure for technological advancement and next-generation talent training. Notably, the training center located within the facility will become the largest in Asia. The number of FFS units will be expanded to up to 30, and it will be designed to train more than 20,000 domestic and international pilots annually. With this, Korean Air aims to become a global standard airline equipped with the world's highest-level pilot training and certification systems.

Aircraft Engine Maintenance Capacity to Increase to 500 Units Annually

On this day, Korean Air also gave the media access to its Second Engine Test Cell (ETC) and the construction site of the new engine maintenance factory, both located in the Unbuk District.

The Second ETC, completed last year, is an advanced aircraft engine testing facility situated right next to the First ETC. It measures 10 meters by 10 meters and is designed to test engines of up to 62,000 pounds. The decision to expand was made to ensure rapid and efficient maintenance, considering that the integrated Hanjin Group fleet will total about 300 aircraft.

Korean Air's new engine maintenance factory expansion construction site. The new engine maintenance factory is being built with a construction cost of 578 billion won, covering a total floor area of 142,117.3 square meters, equivalent to the size of 20 soccer fields. Photo by Youngchan Choi

Right next to the Second ETC, construction was underway to expand Korean Air’s new engine maintenance factory. The new facility is being built at a cost of 578 billion won, covering a total floor area of 142,117.73 square meters, equivalent to the size of 20 soccer fields. This will be the largest aircraft maintenance complex in Asia, with operations scheduled to begin in 2027. It is expected to provide a one-stop service that can handle the entire process of aircraft engine maintenance, from start to finish, in a single location.

Korean Air’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities will be further strengthened following the launch of the integrated airline. As Korean Air’s engine overhaul capacity increases, it is expected to reduce the domestic aviation industry’s reliance on overseas maintenance and decrease the outflow of foreign currency. The number of engines Korean Air can maintain annually is also set to rise from 134 to 500 by 2030. If 500 engines are serviced, the company’s engine maintenance revenue is expected to increase from the current 1.3 trillion won to over 5 trillion won. The number of engine models the company can handle will also expand from six to twelve by 2030.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.