COLOGNE, July 15 2026 - The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has introduced a new regulatory framework for Flight Simulation Training Devices (FSTDs), marking the most significant evolution of flight simulation qualification in Europe in decades.
The new framework, established through Regulation (EU) 2026/781 and supported by new Certification Specifications (CS-FSTD Issue 1), modernises the way flight simulation training devices are qualified and used for pilot training.
Flight simulation training devices and other training devices play a critical role in aviation safety by allowing pilots to train, practise and maintain competencies in realistic conditions while improving training effectiveness and reducing the environmental impact and operational risk of the training exercise.
The new framework replaces the traditional qualification approach based on fixed simulator types and levels with a more flexible capability-based system. This allows training devices to be assessed according to their actual technical capabilities and provides a framework that can evolve alongside advances in simulation technology. (....)