3Twenty Aviation is proud to announce that it has been selected by NATS, the UK’s leading provider of air traffic services, to deliver Airbus A320 flight simulator familiarisation experiences for members of their Aircraft Control Position Operators (ACPO) team.
As part of the programme, ACPO staff visited 3Twenty Aviation’s state-of-the-art A320 simulator facility to gain hands-on insight into airline flight deck operations. Participants had the opportunity to fly the Airbus A320 themselves—taking off and landing the aircraft—while also experiencing a range of realistic, high-pressure scenarios including electrical failures, TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) events, and engine failures.
In addition, the sessions explored how airline crews manage real-world operational demands, such as re-routing due to weather or traffic, flying direct to waypoints, entering and exiting holding patterns, and responding dynamically to instructions from air traffic control. This exposure helped to deepen understanding of how decisions are made in the cockpit and how they affect—and are affected by—airspace management.
Feedback from the ACPO staff was overwhelmingly positive, with many reporting that the experience was extremely beneficial to their roles and has enhanced their appreciation of the flight crew’s perspective.
Dan George, Director at 3Twenty Aviation, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to support NATS in this initiative. It’s a privilege to play a role—however small—in contributing to the safety and efficiency of UK airspace. Helping ACPO staff gain a first-hand appreciation of what airline crews face, both in normal and abnormal situations, strengthens the collaborative relationship between pilots and controllers, which is vital for aviation safety.”
This collaboration reinforces 3Twenty Aviation’s growing reputation as a centre for high-quality airline training and simulator experiences, not just for pilots and cadets, but for professionals across the wider aviation sector.
For more information about 3Twenty Aviation and our simulator programmes, visit www.3twentyaviation.co.uk.