Bearing the "Unbearable Weight" After Takeoff – A Glimpse into the Aviation Headquarters Training Space

▲ Pilots in the aircraft flight simulator during flight.

Reported and photographed by You t
ru / Taoyuan

“Come on, align with the two lines ahead on the left and right, pull up. No, no, off course, try again.” Sitting in the aircraft flight simulator, the pilot is fully tense as the cabin pressure begins to rise. This is the simulation training area for trainee pilots located within the domestic airline campus in Taoyuan. Three white simulators, detached from the connecting walkway via stairs, slowly start to rotate in mid-air.


▲ The simulator room.


▲ The simulator room detaching from the connecting walkway and starting to rotate slowly in mid-air.


▲ Entrance to the simulator room.

This is a routine training scene within the China Airlines campus. Under the guidance of instructors, trainee pilots personally operate the aircraft inside the cockpit, starting with basic takeoffs and landings. Instructors adjust the difficulty level of each flight, selecting different flight scenarios and airports to allow trainees to execute various commands in the “4D” cockpit. The specially custom-built simulators, costing hundreds of millions, feature operating systems identical to real cockpits. Classified by aircraft model, each simulated flight requires pilots to stay highly alert, imagining that the lives of hundreds of passengers aboard are entirely in their hands.


▲ Specially custom-built simulators costing hundreds of millions, with operating systems identical to real cockpits.


▲% The internal setup varies according to different flight conditions.
 

“During the process of operating the simulator, I clearly felt that this is a job with great responsibility and a long way to go.” A China Airlines first officer once shared that during simulated flights, nothing can be taken lightly. Even the thrilling sight of realistic blue skies and white clouds demands careful control at every moment, because the cockpit scenes, which ordinary people never get to see, are truly the “unbearable weight” in the eyes of pilots.


▲ The blue sky view after takeoff can be fully experienced inside the simulator.

▲ Before landing, the runway can be seen in the simulator—this is a simulation of the Taoyuan Airport landing runway.

 
 
 
▲ The landing process. The cockpit not only features realistic airport interiors but also accurately simulates the surrounding mountainous terrain.

Within the airline campus, besides the simulators, there are many hidden mysterious spaces, such as the flight attendant training rooms, posture and etiquette classrooms, and emergency evacuation training areas—all equipped with simulated cabin facilities. These are designed to help crew members repeatedly familiarize themselves with the procedures for serving passengers, preparing for any “unexpected needs.”

The cabin where flight attendants serve passengers is divided into first class, business class, and economy class, complete with meal preparation rooms, restrooms, and seating areas identical to those on real planes. Stepping into this area feels like boarding a real flight about to take off. Here, flight attendants undergo a series of service training to simulate passenger needs. From welcoming passengers, inquiring about meals, laying napkins, pouring drinks, to simulating disembarkation, the attendants’ demeanor and responses must be flawless here before they can officially begin their duties.


▲ Flight attendant posture and etiquette training room.


▲% Service training in progress.



 
▲ Left: First class; Right: Business class.

 
▲ Meal preparation area and contents.

 
▲ The simulated cabin also has toilets and toilets, though there’s no water below—completely sealed.


▲ Flight attendants experiencing the cabin.


               ▲ Simulated boarding and greeting passengers.


▲% Realistic scenes of boarding, luggage, and daylight boarding.



▲ Emergency evacuation training area.

In the central building of the China Airlines campus, there is also an emergency evacuation training area. A slightly smaller aircraft model is parked here. Originally deflated, the evacuation slides rapidly inflate into slides with the press of a button by the instructor. This type of emergency evacuation training prepares for emergency landings, assessing flight attendants' ability to respond under crisis scenarios.