SIMAERO

What SIMAERO does

Simaero is an independent French provider of commercial pilot training on Level D qualified full-flight simulators, headquartered in Roissy-en-France, France. The company operates five training centers across France (Paris CDG, Dinard), South Africa (Johannesburg), China (Changsha and Zhengzhou), and India (Delhi NCR/Gurgaon), serving more than 250 civil and military carriers across 80+ countries and training over 5,000 pilots annually. Its asset base spans 20+ aircraft types including Airbus (A320, A330, A340, A350), Boeing (B737 CL/NG, B757, B767, B777, B787), ATR (42/72 variants), and Embraer/Beechcraft/Dash 8/Fokker/MD-80 platforms. The technical stack combines Level D full-flight simulators with a proprietary Wisdom e-learning platform, CBTA (Competency-Based Training and Assessment) methodology delivered on Hinfact's platform, an Instructor Concordance Assurance Program, and an in-house Engineering Services division that handles simulator upgrades, relocation, trading, and maintenance.

Revenue is generated primarily through B2B enterprise contracts with airlines for type rating, recurrent, and CBTA-aligned training, supplemented by direct individual pilot enrollment (with French VAT exemptions and CPF financing via partner FLEXSIM), dry-lease simulator access at certain centers, CBTA advisory services, and Engineering Services. Pricing is quote-based and varies by aircraft type, training location, and program scope; airlines typically engage under multi-year contracts while individual pilots transact on a pay-as-you-go basis. Simaero is privately held, with founders and management as primary owners, and secured its first significant external financing in May 2026 — a €27.5 million debt facility from Eiffel Investment Group tied to Impact Covenants on French employment and carbon footprint reduction. The company has committed $100 million over five years to its India operations and posted 80% year-over-year revenue growth in its most recent reported year (revenue above €25 million).

Name

SIMAERO

Legal name

SIMAERO holding, SASU

Website

https://sim.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Simaero is an independent French provider of commercial pilot training on Level D full-flight simulators, operating five training centers across Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific to serve 250+ civil and military carriers across 80+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Pilot Training Services

NAICS

Flight Training (611512), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)

Keywords

• Pilot training services
• Flight simulator training
• Type rating programs
• Competency-based training
• Aviation training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Roissy-en-france

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Pilot Type Rating Training: Simaero generates revenue primarily from providing initial and refresher type rating training on full-flight simulators for airline pilots. Training covers multiple aircraft types (Airbus, Boeing, ATR, Embraer, and others) across its global network. Pricing is quote-based and varies by aircraft type, location, and program scope.
2. Full-Flight Simulator Dry Lease: Simaero offers dry lease arrangements for airlines and training organizations to use simulators without Simaero providing instruction. Available at certain locations (e.g., Zhengzhou, Changsha).
3. Engineering Services: Simaero Engineering division provides simulator upgrades, relocation, operational support, trading, housing, maintenance, and signature products to third-party simulator operators.
4. CBTA Advisory Services to Airlines: Simaero offers CBTA Services to Airlines, a dedicated service helping operators transition to or mature CBTA and EBT approaches, including course design, gap analysis, and compliance support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SIMAERO operates a global network of Level D qualified full-flight simulators delivering initial and recurrent type rating training, cross crew qualification, difference courses, instructor/examiner certification, and MCC courses for commercial airline pilots. The company trains over 5,000 pilots per year from 250+ civil and military carriers across 80+ countries at training centers in France, South Africa, China, and India, supplemented by its proprietary Wisdom e-learning platform and a CBTA-aligned curriculum. SIMAERO also operates an engineering division providing simulator upgrades, relocation, maintenance, and trading services to third-party operators.

Product overview

Simaero is a world-leading provider of pilot training on full-flight simulators offering a comprehensive portfolio of training solutions. The core offering consists of Type Rating Training programs for initial and refresher qualifications across multiple aircraft families including Airbus (A320, A330, A340, A350), Boeing (B737, B757, B767, B777, B787), ATR (42, 72 variants), and other regional aircraft (Embraer, Beechcraft, Dash 8, Fokker, MD-80). Supporting training services include Cross Crew Qualification (CCQ), Difference Courses, Instructor/Examiner Courses (SFI/TRI, SFE/TRE), Multi Crew Cooperation (MCC), and Operational Courses. The company operates the proprietary Wisdom e-learning platform for theoretical training and provides CBTA Services to help airlines transition to modern competency-based training approaches. Simaero also offers Engineering Services encompassing simulator upgrades, relocation, maintenance, and trading. The company serves 250+ civil and military carriers from 80+ countries across five strategically located training centers in France, South Africa, China, and India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Type Rating Training

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces pilot training costs by up to 90% versus traditional training methods
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cannes Aviation AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Simaero and Cannes Aviation Academy signed a Memorandum of Understanding to offer airlines a comprehensive pilot training pathway from initial training (ab initio, MPL, integrated ATPL) to aircraft type qualification. Cannes Aviation Academy retains operational and regulatory control over ab initio training under its ATO approval, while Simaero delivers type rating and advanced airline training.
• French Embassy in IndiaminorOthers · 4 March 2026Simaero hosted representatives from the French Embassy in India (Thibaut Spor, Louis Vermersch, Oscar S.) at its Delhi NCR simulator training center on March 4, 2026. Discussions focused on growing cooperation between India and France in aviation training.
• HinfactcoreTechnology or Integration · 6 January 2026Simaero selected Hinfact as its platform provider to support the group's transition to full CBTA across its global training services network. Hinfact provides the technology platform underpinning Simaero's CBTA delivery.
• OpenAirlinescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2025Simaero and OpenAirlines announced a strategic partnership to integrate eco-flying analytics and fuel optimization into simulator-based pilot training programs. The collaboration aims to embed operational efficiency and environmental sustainability principles in early pilot training to impact in-flight decision-making, extending to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) awareness.
• HNCA (Asset Leasing Joint Venture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Simaero established an asset leasing joint venture with HNCA to finance the six-bay Changsha Training Center in Hunan Province, China. This partnership enables Simaero to deploy simulators manufactured by China Simulation Sciences Co., Ltd. (CSS) in China without bearing full capital cost.
• China Simulation Sciences Co., Ltd. (CSS)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCSS is the manufacturer of Simaero's A320 CEO/NEO full-flight simulators used at the Changsha Training Center (China) and the new Paris CDG A320 CEO/NEO simulator. CSS-manufactured simulators achieved both EASA and CAAC certification — a significant milestone as the first Chinese-manufactured simulator to earn EASA Level D qualification.
• FLEXSIMminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFLEXSIM is Simaero's certified Qualiopi partner for financing French pilots' training via CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation) and France Travail programs. FLEXSIM studies financing solutions and manages the training administration for qualifying programs on Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 NG.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves1 record

Direct peers

• CAE: CAE is the global leader in civil aviation training and the world's largest simulator manufacturer. It operates an extensive network of training centers and provides type rating and recurrent training on the same Airbus, Boeing, and business aircraft platforms as Simaero, making it the closest scale comparable.
• FlightSafety International: FlightSafety International (a Boeing subsidiary) is one of the world's premier commercial and business aviation training organizations with a large fleet of Level D simulators. It competes directly with Simaero for type rating contracts from airlines and corporate flight departments globally.
• Lufthansa Aviation Training: Lufthansa Aviation Training operates multiple European training centers offering type rating and recurrent training across Airbus and Boeing fleets, plus pilot selection. As a European-headquartered competitor with a similar geographic customer profile, it is a direct head-to-head rival to Simaero for European airline contracts.
• Pan Am Flight Academy: Pan Am Flight Academy provides commercial pilot training and simulator-based type rating programs in the US and internationally. It serves a similar airline customer base and competes for cadet, type rating, and recurrent training contracts across overlapping aircraft types.
• FTEJerez (Flight Training Europe): FTEJerez is a Spain-based pilot training organization offering integrated ATPL and type rating courses with simulator partnerships. It competes with Simaero for European airline cadet pipelines and ab initio-to-type-rating pathway contracts.
• Airways Aviation: Airways Aviation operates pilot training academies across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, providing integrated ATPL and type rating solutions. Its multi-region presence and airline cadet partnerships overlap directly with Simaero's emerging-market expansion strategy.
• TRU Simulation + Training: TRU Simulation + Training (a Textron Aviation company) provides full-flight simulators, training devices, and pilot training services. It competes with Simaero in simulator manufacturing, training services, and engineering support to third-party operators.

Broad incumbents

• Airbus (Training Services): Airbus operates its own training organization (Airbus Training Centre) with comprehensive type rating programs on the Airbus fleet. As the OEM, it competes with Simaero for Airbus type ratings while also being a partner in the broader ecosystem — a broad incumbent with potential to crowd out third-party operators.
• Boeing Global Services: Boeing Global Services includes flight training operations (via FlightSafety International acquisition) and offers type rating and recurrent training across Boeing commercial platforms. It competes broadly with Simaero across the entire Boeing fleet type rating market.

Emerging players

• Aviation Training Academy: Aviation Training Academy operates type rating and cadet pilot training programs in Asia and the Middle East. As a smaller, fast-growing competitor focused on emerging aviation markets, it represents an emerging peer to Simaero in the same geographic and customer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SimAeroTraining
• Facebookfacebook.com/simaero
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/simaero
• Instagraminstagram.com/sim.aero

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SIMAERO