AlphaTech

After a visit to Newtownards today HRH decided he should start practicing for the Royal Flight Simulator Championships. 'One is NOT amused by low fuel warnings!' 😎🛩️

Today we celebrate World Pilots’ Day ✈️

From first flights to final line checks, every pilot’s journey starts with a single spark, and we’re proud to be part of that journey every single day at AlphaTech.

Through our AlphaPilotAPS scheme, we’ve helped aspiring pilots develop the core competencies, knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to succeed in airline selection and ultimately in pilot training. Watching our cadets go on to secure places with major airlines and begin their careers on the flight deck is what it’s all about.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Our simulator experiences continue to inspire the next generation, giving people their very first taste of aviation. For many, that first takeoff in the sim becomes the moment everything changes.

Today is about celebrating pilots, but also the journey it takes to become one.

If you’ve ever thought about flying, this is your sign.

✈️ We've been a bit quiet on here since Christmas... but that's because we have been absolutely flat out! 🚀

Here's what's been keeping us busy in January:

We have supported another 21 pilots through their sim assessments → Delighted to report our success rates are holding strong at nearly 100%! 💯 We're incredibly proud to be the preference for A320 sim assessment preparation with customers coming from London every week and even further afield.

We welcomed a fresh intake of ambitious new trainee pilots into our AlphaPilotAPS scheme. These future stars are already hard at work building their core competencies on our Airbus A320 simulator. The next generation is rising! 🌟

Our Experiences continue to be one of the highest-rated aviation activities in the UK & Ireland — and we're thrilled to maintain our Trustpilot 'Excellent' rating from hundreds of happy customers. Thank you for the amazing feedback! ⭐

We've rolled out exciting upgrades to our simulator, including new airports added to the database — making training even more realistic and comprehensive.

Non-stop action behind the scenes, all to keep pushing the standards in professional pilot training.

If you're aiming for the flight deck or just want to experience what real airline sim flying feels like, get in touch! 👇

www.flyalphatech.com

🎄 Merry Christmas from AlphaTech 🎄

As the year comes to a close, we want to thank every pilot, student and aspiring aviator who has trusted AlphaTech to be part of their journey.

From first simulator sessions and sim assessment preparation, through to command course assessment prep and ongoing professional development, our focus has always been the same; supporting pilots at every stage of their careers. We are proud to work with such a committed community that values professionalism, continual learning and developing core competencies.

We would also like to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our A320 Simulator Experiences, inspiring the next generation and those with a genuine passion for aviation, and reminding us why opening the flight deck to the public matters so much.

On Christmas morning, hundreds of people will be opening an AlphaTech A320 Simulator Experience Voucher. If that is you, we very much look forward to welcoming you in 2026. Please remember to book your slot as early as possible to secure your preferred date and time, as always slots are first come first served.

And finally, Christmas is a time to reflect on progress made and goals ahead. Wherever you are on your aviation path, we look forward to continuing to support you in building confidence, competence and consistency in the year to come.

We wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a safe, successful New Year.

The AlphaTech Team ✈️

Recently, a young pilot was told by a local flying club that simulator training offers no benefit. We were absolutely astounded by that. Anyone involved in modern pilot development knows that high quality simulator coaching is one of the strongest tools young (and older!) pilots can have in their journey.

The view that it offers no benefit is entirely at odds with modern aviation training, and the results here at AlphaTech show why.

But even more than that, it also raises a serious question. Why is it that in modular aviation training, pilot core competencies are not mentioned until the MCC APS course? (Maybe during your IR, at a push).

These competencies sit at the heart of airline training and selection processes.

Communication, workload management, situational awareness, leadership and flight path management are the skills every airline assesses from day one. Yet many clubs and modular schools don't introduce them until the very end of the journey. By that point the student is already behind.

Here's the facts for you to consider.

1. Airlines recruit and train through Pilot Core Competencies. These include, communication, situational awareness, workload management and flight path management. These skills are far easier to develop in a simulator than in a light aircraft.

2. A simulator allows unlimited repetition. Students can practise briefings, decision making and scenario handling again and again, something that is impossible in real aircraft due to weather, airspace and especially today, cost.

3. The simulator removes time pressures and stress which lets pilots build structured thinking and strong habits long before scholarship or airline interviews.

4. Real aircraft flying does not reliably and consistently teach workload management or situational awareness because students are overwhelmed with the handling and radio work that come with single pilot operations. The simulator gives them space to actually develop these skills.

5. Simulator coaching gives pilots the language and behaviours assessors expect. This is why scholarship and airline interview (including sim assessment) performance jumps significantly when core competencies are developed early.

Here is what the results at AlphaTech look like because of all of that stuff.

1. In the last six months we have supported nearly one hundred first officers, from 180 hours up to 2000 hours, through their airline simulator assessments. Our success rate was 96%. (One airline remains 100% success rate).

(Not to mention the 50+ Direct Entry Command Preparations we have support as well!)

2. We delivered that support at roughly 1/3 lower cost than other UK providers.

3. We did it by coaching Pilot Core Competencies. Not shortcuts, not tricks, not tip-offs, but the same competencies airlines assess and value.

4. In the last twelve months 8 of our AlphaPilotAPS students have progressed directly into airline careers. These were pilots who built their foundation in the simulator before they ever reached the MCC stage.

5. We currently support more than 60 people who are working toward an airline future, and Flight Simulator training is one of the strongest contributors to their progress.

In the last number of years many of them have achieved fully sponsored pilot training and every one of them has highlighted the simulator as a key part of that success.

For any organisation to tell a new pilot that simulator training offers no benefit is a disservice.

The industry has moved forward.

The training standards have moved forward. It is time every flying club reflects that reality.

Find out how we can support you as a new pilot on our website.

www.flyalphatech.com

Chat to us on WhatsApp
https://wa.me/447832620665

A320 Rated Pilots – Preparing for an Airline Assessment?

If your upcoming simulator assessment includes raw data handling or an EFATO, make sure you’re walking in confident and current.

At AlphaTech, we specialise in helping pilots like you prepare for A320 operator assessments with focused, instructor-led sessions that target exactly what airlines assess.

🟩 Raw data ILS and general handling (Some airlines also assess a raw data take off)
🟩 EFATO and OEI Approach
🟩 Airline assessment technique coaching, training not tip-offs
🟩 TopTips to help you succeed during your sim assessment

📍 Book your assessment prep slot now at flyalphatech.com/airlineassessment

🧠 On Average 30% more affordable than our London competitors

✈️ AlphaTech Success Story!

From PPL to Airbus: How AlphaPilotAPS made the difference

We caught up with Tommy, one of our former AlphaPilot clients, who trained with us before securing his airline role and completing his A320 type rating. Here’s what he had to say about how AlphaTech training helped him at every stage of the journey.

1. What made you join AlphaTech in the first place?

I was at a point where I had my PPL and some hours under my belt but knew I needed some jet aircraft sim time to give my self a better chance of getting an airline job. I had been given a simulator experience back in 2018 as a Xmas present and when a mate of mine mentioned AlphaTech, I decided to become a member in 2022. Their A320 sim was cutting edge and has improved even since then as now we have smoke in the cockpit scenarios with actual smoke. The training was affordable and booking a session around my job schedule as a lifeguard was so effortless. This place felt like I could definitely get a head start and start to make my pilot ambitions a reality.

2. How did the training at AlphaTech help you with airline selection?

AlphaTech training was a game changer. I had MSFS2020 on my home PC and was flying the airbus just with what little knowledge I had but when I joined, everything massively improved. When I walked into the interview I knew I was ready to talk about nearly all real world events in which airline pilots practise for, whether it’s handling an ECAM, wind shear resulting in a go around on short final or even the basics as how to brief for an approach, my ability and capacity to talk at length to the interviewers would not have been made possible if it weren’t for the sessions I had at AlphaTech.

3. Did the training make a difference during your type rating?

Absolutely, the training at AlphaTech was basically a cheat code for my A320 type rating. I had already spent about 60hrs in the sim, I was already comfortable with flows, checklists and handling the aircraft in all sort of scenarios, this meant that I could focus on the finer details instead of playing catch up. The instructors here hammered the importance of ECAM handling and not immediately jumping into “What is happening” while starting to push all sorts of buttons. I reckon I saved weeks of stress and probably a few quid too since I didn’t need any extra training sims to get up to speed.

4. Looking back, what stands out the most from AlphaTech?

The instructors, especially Paul, were incredible, they didn’t just teach me the A320 systems or procedures, they genuinely cared about me getting ready for the real thing. When I finished my IR training, I had a gap before my MCC, and during that gap I had 2 sessions at AlphaTech, during those sims we smashed out what was going to be happening during my APSMCC which I manage to pass first time, massively down to the preparation I received from AlphaTech. The setup is all professional and even with that in mind, they are more than happy to have a laugh with you all while you’re constantly learning.

Honestly, AlphaTech didn’t just prep me for my pilot career, they gave me the belief that I could actually pull it off.

✈️ Dreaming of flying the Airbus with Aer Lingus? ☘️

Applications are now open for Direct Entry Pilots, and that means simulator assessments are just around the corner!

At AlphaTech, we specialise in A320 Simulator Assessment Preparation. Our training is designed to give you the confidence and core competencies airlines like Aer Lingus are looking for, helping you perform at your very best on assessment day.

✔️ Airbus A320 fixed-base simulator in Newtownards
✔️ Airline-style profiles tailored to Aer Lingus assessments
✔️ Professional Airbus instructors that get great results
✔️ Proven track record of helping pilots secure their dream roles

📍 Stand out from the crowd and be assessment ready

👉 Book your preparation session today at www.flyalphatech.com/airlineassessment

✈️ Got an A320 Simulator Experience Voucher?

Due to unprecedented demand, we’ve added a free 3 month extension to all vouchers due to expire in December.

Remember, vouchers must be booked and flown within 12 months plus this extension. (End of March 2026).

If you need more time, you can extend by:
• 6 months for £45
• 12 months for £80

📅 Bookings are limited and only on first come, first served – secure your slot while availability lasts.

Go to

AlphaTech A320 Simulator Bookings | AlphaTech AlphaTech booking service for Experiences and Assessment Slots