Flight Safety International Unveils Major Growth Plans for Farnborough Airport
FlightSafety International (FSI), a global leader in aviation training, has announced a significant expansion of its presence at Farnborough Airport in the United Kingdom. This strategic development marks a major milestone in the company’s mission to elevate aviation safety standards and increase access to world-class flight training across Europe.
The new training facility, set to open in the second quarter of 2027, will significantly increase FSI’s capacity to train aviation professionals in both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The expansion not only underscores FSI’s long-standing commitment to the European aviation sector but also highlights the growing demand for highly skilled flight crews in a dynamic and increasingly complex airspace environment.
Expansion Timeline and Development Plans
Following the submission of the planning application in January 2025, FSI has finalized lease agreements for the new facility. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2025 and is expected to conclude by early 2027, allowing the new training center to become operational shortly thereafter. This timeline aligns with the company’s broader strategy to meet surging demand for pilot training, prompted by increasing air travel volumes, fleet expansions, and evolving regulatory requirements.
The expansion will be built on an additional 0.7-hectare parcel of land at Farnborough Airport, adjacent to FSI’s existing facilities. The development will include the relocation of existing parking infrastructure and the construction of a Flight Safety modern 4,680-square-metre building. This new facility will house six full-flight simulators (FFS), 10 lower-level training devices, and 19 advanced classrooms, effectively increasing the training centre’s capacity by 40 to 50 percent.
History and Capabilities at Farnborough
FlightSafety International has operated its training centre at Farnborough Airport since 2004. Over the past two decades, the facility has become a vital hub for pilot and crew training in the region, serving over 3,500 aviation professionals annually. The Flight Safety current facility features 11 high-fidelity simulators and offers training for more than 14 different aircraft types, including jets, turboprops, and helicopters.
FSI is renowned for the quality of its training programmes, which are delivered by a global team of over 1,800 professional instructors. These experts collectively provide more than 1.4 million hours of training each year. The Flight Safety company’s clients range from commercial airlines and corporate flight departments to government agencies and military organisations, all of whom rely on FSI’s rigorous and safety-focused instruction to maintain operational excellence.
With the new facility, FSI plans to add over 60 new positions at its Farnborough location. These include 40 additional flight instructors, eight simulator maintenance technicians, six customer support specialists, three Flight Safety administrative staff members, and five programme managers. This hiring initiative reflects not only the increased training capacity but also the company’s continued investment in the local workforce.
Enhancing Training Accessibility and Reducing Travel Burden
One of the core motivations behind the expansion is to make high-quality training more accessible to European aviation operators. By boosting capacity at its Farnborough centre, FSI aims to reduce the need for Flight Safety European clients to travel to its U.S.-based training centres, a move that will save time, lower travel costs, and reduce carbon emissions associated with international air travel.
This localized approach to training also enables operators to respond more flexibly to regulatory requirements and market demands. With Flight Safety simulator availability closer to home, pilots and operators can schedule recurrent and initial training sessions more efficiently, ultimately supporting better crew planning and aircraft availability.
According to Ben Carter, Executive Vice President of Learning Center Operations at FlightSafety International, the expansion reflects the company’s long-term vision for global training excellence. “This expansion at Farnborough Airport represents a significant milestone in our commitment to enhancing aviation training across Europe,” Carter said. “By increasing our capacity and capabilities, we aim to not only meet the growing demand for high-quality flight training but also reinforce our dedication to improving aviation safety globally.”
Economic and Community Impact
The benefits of FSI’s expansion at Farnborough will extend beyond the aviation industry and into the broader local economy. With thousands of aviation professionals expected to pass through the centre each year, the development is projected to generate over 9,000 additional hotel nights annually. This influx of visitors will benefit a wide range of local businesses, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, serviced apartments, restaurants, retail outlets, and entertainment venues.
Moreover, the new jobs created at the training centre will provide valuable opportunities for skilled professionals and support staff in the region. From technical roles maintaining simulators to customer service and administrative positions, the project offers meaningful employment prospects in a sector known for stability and long-term growth.
Simon Geere, Chief Executive Officer at Farnborough Airport, praised FSI’s decision to deepen its investment in the airport and the surrounding area. “We are proud to support FlightSafety International’s continued growth,” Geere stated. “The expansion of FSI’s facilities at Farnborough Airport will create further local jobs, generate inward investment, increase international business traffic, and ensure that Farnborough continues to be at the forefront of aviation innovation and safety for years to come.”
A Strategic Location with a Historic Legacy
Farnborough Airport, often referred to as the birthplace of British aviation, is Europe’s leading business aviation airport and the first to achieve carbon neutrality in the sector. With its state-of-the-art infrastructure, dedicated Flight Safety service offerings Flight Safety for corporate and private aviation, and proximity to London, Farnborough provides an ideal environment for aviation training and business growth.
The airport contributes approximately £1.9 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy annually and plays a vital role in supporting the aerospace and aviation sectors. Its continued development, including infrastructure upgrades and tenant expansions such as FSI’s, aligns with the UK’s ambitions to be a global leader in aerospace innovation, sustainability, and workforce development.
A Future-Focused Vision for Aviation Training
The expansion of FlightSafety International’s Farnborough facility comes at a pivotal moment for the global aviation industry. As commercial and business aviation rebounds from the pandemic and embraces a new era of sustainability, digitization, and automation, the need for highly skilled and continuously trained personnel has never been more critical.
FSI’s investment reflects a proactive response to this evolving landscape. By building cutting-edge facilities equipped Flight Safety with the latest simulation technologies and expanding its team of expert instructors, the company is positioning itself to meet the training needs of the next generation of pilots, maintenance technicians, and aviation leaders.
In doing so, FlightSafety International not only strengthens its own competitive position but also contributes to a safer, more resilient, and Flight Safety better-prepared aviation ecosystem in Europe and beyond.