Halldale’s EATS once again proved why it’s one of the industry’s annual barometers. You can feel, almost instantly, how airline training is evolving. And this year made one thing unmistakably clear: aviation, technology, and regulation are not running on parallel tracks. They’re converging, sometimes neatly, often awkwardly, but always with momentum.
And as this convergence accelerates, a quiet truth is becoming louder. The future of airline training won’t be defined by one party alone. It will be driven by the partnerships behind them. It will be driven by the collaboration between airlines, training experts, and technology specialists who bring the breadth of insight no single organisation can hold on its own.
Beyond vendors: why technology specialists are becoming strategic partners
Airlines are externally recognising and promoting the value of working closely with technology specialists. The best solution providers bring far more than technical tools: they carry a breadth of industry knowledge gained from working closely with many customers across the airline spectrum, and a deep understanding of what has succeeded, or struggled sometimes in other markets. Insights like these are rarely found in-house.
Case Studies from EATS
A clear example of this shift came from the UK FOLG Training Sub Group, who stressed that the next generation of training technology must be shaped jointly by airlines and developers, but always with one eye on the regulations. With new tools set to transform how pilots and cabin crew learn, they called for closer collaboration to ensure solutions meet real operational and regulatory needs. Their open invitation to developers underscored a simple point: meaningful innovation in training won’t happen in isolation, it will be built together.
Also, trailblazing a collaborative approach is AirTanker. Their very own standout session on next generation cabin crew training demonstrated combining immersive technologies with structured competency pathways to create a fully integrated learning experience.
VR headset experiences, developed in collaboration with EDM, allow crew members to practise real-world scenarios in a safe, fully immersive environment. This is complemented by 360° immersive iPad learning.
Competency management and progression are tracked through EFOS Training with crew members able to access real time training data via the EFOS Mobile app, providing a clear, personal pathway and learning experience for each trainee. The vast training data captured throughout EFOS forms and courses enables trainers to monitor progress, identify gaps, and ensure that each crew member meets the required standards before moving on to the next stage of their training.
The result is a blended competency-based ecosystem where technology amplifies human expertise, not replaces it. Trainees benefit from engaging, hands-on experiences, while instructors and candidates alike gain unprecedented visibility into progress and performance. Early results are promising, with Airtanker reporting increased confidence and better knowledge retention. The airline is working with the UK CAA on approval for VR use as an alternative to live aircraft visits which will be a huge operational benefit and big win in itself.
Don’t lose sight of the narrative: Comments are as vital as scores
EBT and CBTA have undoubtedly raised the standard of airline training, giving clear, high-level measures of competence. But as many sessions at EATS highlighted, numbers alone don’t tell the full story and crew are actively seeking feedback in the debrief and reporting. High-level grading provides a snapshot, but it misses the nuances that make the difference when developing talent, preparing crew for promotions, or planning role progression.
Narrative feedback as a strategic asset
This is where narrative feedback comes into its own. Rich, descriptive evaluations capture context, reasoning, and subtle skill differences – insights that quantitative scores can’t convey. Trainers can provide guidance that shapes growth in ways numbers simply cannot, while trainees gain clarity on where to focus and how to improve.
The importance of narrative is only growing as generative AI enters the training ecosystem. Natural language is the lifeblood of AI-driven evaluation: it enables automated grading, highlights individual areas for improvement, and supports personalised development pathways. Without high-quality narrative data, AI is limited in delivering meaningful insights.
AI in aviation training: promise, proof, and the ROI reality
AI is no longer a distant concept in airline training – it’s already here, shaping how we design, deliver, and assess learning. Yet, as many EATS discussions highlighted, technology alone does not guarantee impact. reminds us that most AI projects never move beyond proof of concept, and even fewer generate measurable ROI. The lesson is clear: AI should be a response to a defined business need, not a solution in search of a problem.
As Simon Sinek would say, training teams must “Start with why.” Are we implementing AI because it is available, or because it genuinely solves a business challenge? Success depends on close collaboration between airlines, training departments, data specialists, and AI engineers. Only when technical capability, operational understanding, and regulatory requirements are aligned can AI deliver value that is meaningful, practical, and sustainable.
There’s another reality: good enterprise AI doesn’t come cheap and differs from the consumer experience we’re all used to. Robust frameworks for data governance, ethical safeguards, and regulatory compliance are essential, and these add complexity and cost. Yet when implemented thoughtfully, AI’s promise is real, but achieving it requires discipline, cross-functional collaboration, and a commitment to aligning technology with tangible training outcomes. Done right, it is a cultural and operational transformation for the airline training ecosystem.
And what of our AI Health Check?
This sentiment towards AI was echoed in the findings from our AI Health Checks with airlines. Most showed strong interest and enthusiasm for what AI can offer. But they also surfaced a clear, pragmatic reality: before taking the plunge, airlines want to tighten foundations. Strong data inputs need to be in place before AI can deliver meaningful value. An appetite for innovation is there but AI readiness comes from the groundwork, not the ambition; a core principle of data analytics projects for many decades
Regulator readiness
No matter how innovative the technology, airline training remains rightfully anchored by regulation. Many projects cannot move beyond preliminary stages without regulator acceptance, which is still a limited resource, conservatively approached but behind the technology curve.
In discussion with airlines about their TMS over the two days, it’s still surprising how many nuances are needed for acceptance – ink signatures on each question, paper-like formatting, and PDFs emailed to multiple recipients. It echoes the long journey of EBT acceptance. And as VR and AI in training expand, airlines are already encountering the same reality.
Regulatory guidance can be misaligned and slow to catch up and, although missing from this year’s agenda, the EASA AI Concept Paper will hopefully be updated to include and reflect the needs of modern, future focussed training departments. Early engagement, clear documentation, and collaborative approaches remain essential to ensure innovation is both effective and trusted.
The power of connection
EATS remains one of the most important networking events of the year for existing customer meetups, industry partnership and knowledge, and building relationships with future colleagues. Each year we see the technology and frameworks develop, understand airline adoption and what’s important to them (and what isn’t) and share stories, and the odd drink, with colleagues across the globe who choose to spend their valuable time in Cascais in November.
Heading to the 18th Annual Flight Operations Conference? Keep an eye out for our team and be sure to say hi!
Dr. Craig M Howard
CEO & Co-founder of Evoke
