Barcelona-El Prat Airport – A Dominant International Gateway
Choosing the right location for a new training center is no easy feat. Key factors must be considered, or the decision could backfire. One such factor is selecting a major airline hub for your new simulator home, as such hubs usually mean higher traffic, more airline offices, and, consequently, more training needs.
Therefore, in 2021, we strategically chose to open BAA Training Spain, just 12 minutes away by car from El Prat, Barcelona’s bustling international airport. Serving as a hub for Iberia, Level, Air Nostrum, and Vueling, and a focus city for EasyJet and Ryanair, in 2024, it handled over 26 million passengers during the first half of the year alone, a significant growth of 12.9% compared to the same period in 2023. The airport is projected to approach its maximum capacity of 55 million passengers annually if the current trend continues.
Excellent connectivity and willingness to be in the central hub were not the only reasons we chose Barcelona. According to BAA Training’s recent market research, only 1 out of 7 top flight schools in Spain, excluding BAA Training, offers Type Rating programs in addition to initial pilot training. This holds true today and was similar three years ago, creating a clear market opportunity for us to fill the niche back then. Today, we are one of the very few that offer initial training (we do this in Lleida-Alguaire, Spain) in combination with Type Rating – from zero to First Officer – all in one country.
Range of Crew Training and Type Rating Offered
Aurimas Urbonas, Managing Director of BAA Training Spain, explains: “We primarily offer training solutions for airlines. Last year, more than 60 percent of our simulator hours were dedicated to Type Rating training for airline pilots, with the remaining hours provided via dry and wet lease options. We are flexible in delivering tailored solutions for airlines, whether they need annual hours with or without commitment, exclusivity, dedicated simulators, or housing and maintenance of their simulators.”
In addition to airline training, BAA Training Spain offers programs for individual self-sponsored pilots. Pilots can receive Initial Type Rating, Type Rating Refresher, Type Rating Instructor (TRI/SFI)certification, Multi-Crew Cooperation (MCC), Multi-Crew Cooperation Instructor (MCCI), Airline Pilot Standard MCC (APS MCC), Jet Orientation Course (JOC), and more. In total, BAA Training has more than 70 training programs approved under its approved training organization (ATO).
In Barcelona, pilots can opt for an A320 or B737 MAX Type Rating or, alternatively, choose from 15 other aircraft types (Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, and ATR) and study elsewhere, utilizing our global BAA Training partnership network.
Simulator Fleet and Other Equipment at the Simulator Center
The simulator fleet at BAA Training Spain includes 6 certified devices:
- 2 A320 FFSs equipped with both CEO and NEO engines,
- 1 737 MAX FFS
- 2 A320 FTD Level 2
- 1 B737 MAX FTD Level 2
The latter two allow airlines to reduce their training costs by moving specific sessions from FFSs to FTDs for assessments, captain upgrades, ATOP, and other training requirements, provided it does not infringe on regulations.
Additionally, we have 2 Airbus Procedure Trainers and VR headsets that we give our students for self-study at home.
Future Outlook for BAA Training Spain
Our facility in Barcelona has ample room for growth. We’ve installed seven simulator bays, with approximately 1,000 sq. m. for cabin crew equipment and nearly 900 sq. m. allocated for future classrooms and administrative spaces.
Based on market demand, we plan to install additional simulators and lease space to airlines, offering both simulator placement and maintenance services.
The Golden Asset of BAA Training Spain – The Team
We would like to pay tribute to all the personnel working in the training center for the success achieved by BAA Training Spain so far, and for the success yet to come. To ensure smooth operations, maintenance, customer support, and planning, a team of 30 employees works at the training center. To provide customers with up-to-date knowledge and recent industry experience, the center collaborates with up to 100 highly qualified instructors for both A320 and B737 types, most of whom are active airline pilots and captains.
Your PILOT CAREER
starts with a first click
Why Choose BAA Training Spain?
Apart from the fact that the facility is spacious, modern, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, and meticulously maintained, we have more “boxes ticked.”
A significant portion of airline training involves recurrent training, much shorter than other training types. For these shorter sessions, logistics are crucial. Many pilots spend an entire day traveling to reach their training location, only to face long commutes to their hotel afterward, which can affect their productivity. At BAA Training Spain, we’ve taken these factors into account.
Our facility is surrounded by hotels within a 5-10 minute drive, and we provide shuttle services for added convenience. Moreover, the center is just 10 minutes by car from Barcelona’s beautiful seaside.
Also, there is an area nearby filled with various restaurants where pilots can relax and enjoy a well-deserved meal after training.
Come visit us, and you will see firsthand how BAA Training Spain combines world-class training, convenience, and comfort to create an ideal environment for both airlines and individual pilots!
