AEROFUGIA, CAFUC team up on training talents for eVTOL domain

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On March 19, Civil Aviation Flight University of China ("CAFUC") and Chinese eVTOL aircraft developer AEROFUGIA signed a cooperation agreement, making AEROFUGIA the first eVTOL company in China to formalize and implement a talent training partnership with CAFUC.

The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on key aspects of eVTOL development, including airworthiness certification flight testing, test pilot training, training standards, and the joint development of eVTOL simulators.

Photo credit: AEROFUGIA

As part of their collaboration, the two parties will establish China's first eVTOL flight technology innovation and talent development base at AEROFUGIA's headquarters. This initiative will drive advancements in eVTOL product development, flight testing, pilot training, and the integration of industry, academia, and research, while also fostering the commercialization of research outcomes.

Moving forward, the partnership will expand into eVTOL pilot training, maintenance personnel skill development, and operational support systems, creating a comprehensive, full-industry talent pipeline for the eVTOL sector.

Test pilots have long been a scarce resource in China's aviation industry, and the emergence of eVTOL aircraft presents an entirely new challenge in terms of R&D, testing, certification, operations, and training. As a leading aviation training institution known as the "cradle of Chinese civil aviation pilots," CAFUC boasts extensive faculty expertise and a well-established aviation education system. With the rise of the low-altitude economy, training pilots for low-altitude operations will become an essential component of the industry's future development.

AEROFUGIA highlighted that this collaboration marks a pioneering effort in building China's first systematic training framework for eVTOL test pilots and commercial pilots. It represents a significant step toward establishing industry standards and addressing the sector's talent shortage.

Looking ahead, AEROFUGIA and CAFUC will continue to drive innovation by training the first cohort of eVTOL test pilots and flight engineers. They also aim to accelerate progress in eVTOL pilot training, flight standardization, and the establishment of dedicated aviation schools, contributing to the broader advancement of the industry.