How flight simulation can help address the global pilot shortage

The global pilot shortage is not a new phenomenon. Six years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, business aviation operators worldwide continue to face rising passenger demand while working with leaner teams.

According to the British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA), business aviation will require a 32% increase in current pilot numbers if it is to keep pace with changing travel patterns and an ageing workforce. Other projections suggest the wider aviation industry will require 300,000 new pilots over the next decade, particularly as e-commerce boosts demand for cargo and eVTOLs begin to take-off.

Considered as one of the largest workforce shifts the sector has ever faced, the industry must now answer a critical question: how can it train pilots at the pace required while maintaining high quality teaching standards?

For many training providers and operators, meeting demand through traditional pathways, such as practical flying-only flight training, will be challenging. Aircraft availability is limited, making flight hours expensive and stretching instructors’ time.  Demand at this scale requires a new approach that increases capacity without straining aircraft or staff. This is where simulation can make a difference.

Scaling training capacity with simulation

Managing the pilot shortage requires more than enrolment. It depends on how many recruits can be trained simultaneously without straining resources. Every new pilot must complete a structured pathway that blends academic study and procedural training. When thousands of candidates enter the pipeline each year, bottlenecks can emerge quickly. However, simulation offers a way to relieve those pressure points.

Full flight simulators (FFS) create a controlled and consistent environment where trainees can practice complex handling and rehearse decision-making scenarios. This supports confidence-building without dependence on limited aircraft availability.

This offers training centres far greater control over scheduling, helping them increase throughput and manage larger groups without compromising safety or quality.

Strengthening the early stages of training

Ensuring training is accessible is essential to expanding the future pilot workforce. High costs, limited access and location barriers increase the risk of trainees leaving programmes early. Simulation helps widen the pathway by allowing trainees to build practical skills and cockpit familiarity from the very start of their journey, long before they step into an aircraft.

The AXIS VPT, for example, offers an early, approachable way for students to build confidence without relying on large facilities or specialist equipment. Its flexibility allows training centres to deliver structured introductory programmes to a broader range of learners, including those who may not live near major hubs.

By the time trainees reach the FFS, they are better prepared and able to focus on higher-level skills, easing pressure on instructors and supporting a smoother progression through training.

Supporting instructors as demand grows

Instructor availability is a growing concern across the sector. Experienced trainers are essential yet demand for their time increases as intake rises. High-fidelity simulators help balance this. With standardised scenarios and reliable performance data, instructors gain clearer insights into where a student requires additional practice.

The AXIS AI Debriefing Station helps relieve pressure on instructors by handling the detailed technical evaluation automatically, allowing instructors to concentrate on decision-making and crew performance rather than monitoring every parameter themselves.

Automated grading tools reduce the time spent on manual assessment, meaning tutors can focus on coaching rather than administration.

Broadening the talent pool

If the industry is to meet BBGA’s forecast, it needs to attract a more diverse range of people into the cockpit. Simulation can support this by lowering barriers and offering more flexible, modular routes into training. From university partnerships to hybrid learning programmes, simulation gives organisations new ways to introduce aviation careers earlier and more effectively.

It also aligns with the expectations of the new generation of learners who value digital environments and self-paced study, both of which simulation delivers.

Simulation as a tool to tackle the global pilot shortage

The global pilot shortage is daunting, but it also presents an opportunity to rethink training for the better. Simulation means organisations can expand capacity, reduce bottlenecks and give future pilots the skills they need in a more efficient and accessible way.

For AXIS Flight Simulation, supporting this shift means building dependable training systems that reflect how pilot development is evolving. By working closely with training centres and operators, we aim to help the industry build a stronger, more resilient pilot pipeline for the years ahead.