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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Jet Simulator Instructor

💰 $70,000 - $130,000

AviationTrainingSimulatorInstruction

🎯 Role Definition

The Jet Simulator Instructor is responsible for planning, conducting, and evaluating jet aircraft simulator training and assessment for airline pilots and type-rating candidates. This role delivers structured scenario‑based training and checking in Full Flight Simulators (FFS) and Flight Training Devices (FTD), ensures regulatory compliance (FAA/EASA/CAAS or equivalent), contributes to curriculum development, supports training quality assurance, and mentors pilots to meet company standards and safe line operations.

Key SEO & LLM keywords: jet simulator instructor, flight simulator instructor, type rating instructor, simulator check, FFS, FTD, CRM, scenario-based training, regulatory compliance, training manager.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • First Officer or Senior First Officer with type-rated jet experience
  • Line Training Pilot or Check Airman (Assistant)
  • CPL/ATPL holders with instructor/check experience and simulator endorsements

Advancement To:

  • Chief Simulator Instructor / Head of Simulator Operations
  • Training Manager / Director of Training
  • Standards Captain / Chief Check Airman

Lateral Moves:

  • Line Training Captain
  • Standards Pilot / Check Airman
  • Technical Training Specialist / Curriculum Developer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Plan, prepare and deliver simulator sessions for jet type ratings, recurrent training, proficiency checks and upgrade courses in accordance with company syllabi, regulatory authority requirements (FAA, EASA, CAAS) and approved training manuals.
  • Conduct pilot assessments, including Type Rating checks, Proficiency Checks (PC), Line Checks in simulator environments, and issue formal pass/fail reports, check sheets and recommendations aligned with regulatory standards.
  • Design, develop and update realistic scenario-based training (SBT) sequences that reflect real-world operational threats and errors, enforce SOPs, and improve pilot decision-making and system knowledge.
  • Execute comprehensive briefing and debriefing sessions using objective evidence, flight data and performance metrics to coach pilots on technical performance, CRM, SOP adherence and deficiencies.
  • Operate and validate full flight simulators (FFS), flight training devices (FTD) and associated simulator systems, ensuring scenario fidelity, aircraft configuration accuracy and environmental parameter settings.
  • Maintain and verify simulator qualification and level of training device (LOTD) compliance, liaising with simulator manufacturers and regulatory inspectors during audits and re‑qualification events.
  • Carry out competency-based training and line-oriented flight training (LOFT), emphasizing threat and error management, automation management and systems understanding for jet operators.
  • Evaluate candidate piloting skills against company standards and regulatory competency frameworks; prepare and present objective evidence to support training and certification decisions.
  • Implement and assess Crew Resource Management (CRM) techniques during simulations to optimize crew communication, leadership, workload management and error recovery.
  • Keep meticulous training records, update pilot training logs, issue course completion documentation and ensure secure retention of check reports and simulator capture data.
  • Support initial and recurrent instructor development by mentoring junior instructors, delivering instructor standardization sessions, and participating in internal Instructor Renewal programs.
  • Coordinate with maintenance teams and simulator technical support to report simulator malfunctions, schedule calibrations, and ensure continuous simulator availability and safety of operations.
  • Review and update training syllabi, lesson plans, emergency procedures and checklists in collaboration with training management and regulatory guidance to reflect fleet changes and safety learnings.
  • Participate in safety investigations, non‑technical skills assessments and post-incident training re-designs, providing simulator-based re-training scenarios when required.
  • Conduct quality assurance audits of simulator sessions, identify systemic training issues, propose corrective actions and contribute to the training department’s continuous improvement plan.
  • Ensure compliance with human factors principles and fatigue management policies when scheduling and conducting simulator sessions; report any SOP or regulatory breaches immediately.
  • Integrate technical topics into simulator training such as avionics (glass cockpits, FMC/FMS, FMGS), autopilot modes, autothrottle, flight management systems, and relevant navigation procedures (RNP, RNAV, ILS).
  • Deliver abnormal and emergency procedures training including engine failures, unreliable airspeed, electrical failures, hydraulic system failures, fire/smoke procedures and evacuation briefings within simulator environment.
  • Provide instruction for multi-crew cooperation courses (MCC) and multi-crew pilot license (MPL) related exercises when applicable to company programs.
  • Facilitate Type Rating course administration tasks: candidate screening, documentation checks, training schedule coordination, and liaison with regulatory authorities for approvals.
  • Maintain personal currency and qualifications by participating in recurrent training, attending seminars, and keeping up to date with regulatory changes, aircraft modifications and operational bulletins.
  • Support commercial and customer-facing activities including demonstration sessions for airline customers, marketing simulator capabilities, and representing the training organization during visits and stakeholder meetings.
  • Assist with research and validation of new simulator software releases, avionics updates and procedural changes; execute acceptance test flights (simulated) and document results for training integration.
  • Prepare and present training performance summaries and trend analyses to training management to support decision making on remedial training, SOP updates, and allocation of training resources.

Secondary Functions

  • Collaborate with the recruitment team to define instructor competency profiles and participate in instructor candidate interviews and practical evaluations.
  • Contribute subject matter expertise to e-learning and classroom curriculum development, providing simulator-based scenarios and assessment criteria for blended training programs.
  • Support cross-functional projects with safety, operations, and technical departments to ensure simulator training reflects current operational risk and mitigations.
  • Participate in departmental budget planning by providing input on simulator utilization, consumables, and upgrade requirements for future fiscal cycles.
  • Act as a mentor for new hires, delivering onboarding and initial standardization training to ensure consistent delivery of simulator instruction.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Certified Simulator Instructor / Type Rating Instructor (SI / TRI) qualification recognized by FAA, EASA or equivalent authority.
  • Valid commercial pilot license (CPL) or airline transport pilot license (ATPL) with applicable jet type ratings (e.g., A320, B737, B777, A330).
  • Demonstrated ability to operate and configure Full Flight Simulator (FFS) and Flight Training Devices (FTD), including simulator scenario programming and replay analysis.
  • Deep knowledge of aircraft systems, avionics (FMC/FMS, FMGS, glass cockpit), automation management, and modern flight deck procedures.
  • Experience creating and delivering scenario-based training (SBT), threat and error management (TEM) modules, and LOFT exercises.
  • Competence with Crew Resource Management (CRM) training methods and non‑technical skills assessment frameworks.
  • Proficiency in simulator debrief tools, flight data monitoring systems and objective performance metric analysis (e.g., SOP adherence scoring).
  • Familiarity with regulatory frameworks and training standards (FAA Part 142, EASA ORO.FC, AQP) and experience supporting audit and certification processes.
  • Strong curriculum development skills: preparing lesson plans, learning objectives, assessment rubrics and pass/fail criteria.
  • Ability to interpret and apply company SOPs, MEL/NEFs and operational bulletins to simulated training environments.
  • Experience with check ride administration, course scheduling software, and secure training record management systems.
  • Technical troubleshooting skills to identify and communicate simulator system anomalies and liaise effectively with technical support teams.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills for briefing, debriefing and report writing.
  • Strong coaching and mentoring ability with a focus on constructive feedback and performance development.
  • Situational awareness and sound decision-making under pressure, modeling calm and professional behavior during emergency simulations.
  • High emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills to manage diverse student cohorts and difficult conversations.
  • Attention to detail and thoroughness in documentation, scenario design and safety compliance.
  • Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and influence stakeholders at all levels including regulators and airline management.
  • Adaptability to changing schedules, technical updates and varying candidate skill levels.
  • Time management and organizational skills to coordinate back-to-back simulator sessions efficiently.
  • Analytical mindset for trend analysis, root cause identification and continuous improvement of training outcomes.
  • Professionalism, integrity and commitment to safety culture as a visible role model within the training department.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or equivalent; valid pilot license (CPL/ATPL) with required type rating and instructor endorsements.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Aviation, Aeronautical Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
  • Additional professional training in education, human factors, or instructional design is advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Aviation / Aeronautical Science
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Human Factors / Safety Science
  • Education / Instructional Design

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–12+ years of relevant pilot experience, with at least 1–3 years in training or checking roles preferred.

Preferred:

  • Prior experience as a Type Rating Instructor (TRI) or Simulator Instructor (SI) on comparable jet types.
  • Proven track record delivering recurrent, difference and initial type rating courses for airline pilots.
  • Experience working within Part 142 or EASA-approved training organizations, and exposure to regulatory audits and simulator qualification processes.
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