The Asia-Pacific Aviation Training Summit (APATS) will return to Bangkok in 2026 with a conference programme heavily focused on artificial intelligence, competency-based training and the growing workforce pressures facing the aviation sector.
Taking place at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) from 31 August to 2 September 2026, APATS is expected to attract over 700 airline training professionals, regulators, aircraft manufacturers and aviation technology providers from across the region.
Widely regarded as the largest aviation training event in Asia-Pacific, the summit’s 2026 agenda reflects the rapid transformation underway across pilot, cabin crew and maintenance training.
Among the headline themes for this year’s programme are the continuing pilot shortage across Asia-Pacific, the evolution of Competency and Evidence-Based Training (CBTA/EBT), Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) developments and the growing integration of AI and advanced simulation technologies into airline training systems.
The opening plenary will set the tone for the conference with a keynote focused on the future of aviation workforce development and the operational demands being created by airline growth across the region.
One of the strongest trends emerging from the APATS 2026 programme is the increasing role of artificial intelligence in aviation training. Dedicated sessions will examine AI-driven pilot training, the identification of “silent failures” in flight operations, and the use of AI in maintenance training environments.
Human performance and resilience are also expected to feature prominently throughout the event. Sessions will explore pilot resilience, wellbeing indicators in ab-initio training systems, instructor capability at scale and the role of psychological assessment in modern aviation training.
Aviation regulators and flight simulator training device operators and manufacturers will play a significant role in the 2026 programme, with a new stream dedicated to them. This will feature dedicated regulatory sessions involving the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and APAC national aviation authorities, with updates on flight simulation training device oversight, regulatory harmonisation and emerging technologies.
The summit’s pilot training stream will include discussions on Evidence-Based Training (EBT), CBTA implementation and MPL developments, while also examining how airlines are adapting training frameworks to support faster pilot development without compromising safety standards.
Cabin crew training has also received a stronger emphasis in this year’s programme, with workshops focused on training realism, leadership development and crew wellness. Industry speakers are expected to address how airlines are modernising cabin crew preparation to better reflect operational realities.
Maintenance training sessions will focus on competency-based training, instructor standardisation, human factors and the growing use of remote and online learning technologies.
Approved Training Organisation (ATO) sessions are set to explore professionalism in new pilot training, instructor behaviour standardisation and the growing use of operational data to improve training outcomes.
Alongside the conference programme, APATS 2026 will feature a large exhibition showcasing the latest training technologies, flight simulation systems, digital learning platforms and operational support solutions.
Networking will remain a major component of the summit, with exhibition floor receptions, airline meetings and industry roundtable discussions expected to provide extensive opportunities for partnership development across the region’s rapidly expanding aviation market.
With airlines across Asia-Pacific continuing to expand fleets and rebuild training pipelines, APATS 2026 is expected to provide one of the industry’s most important forums for addressing the future of aviation training, safety and workforce readiness.
Further information on registration and sponsorship opportunities is available through the official APATS 2026 event website.