APATS 2026 and the Training Demands of a Rapidly Expanding Region

As the industry looks ahead to August 2026, the Asia‑Pacific region is entering a period of unprecedented operational expansion. Passenger demand continues to rise at pace, fleet growth is accelerating, and several states are undertaking substantial modernisation of their training ecosystems. 

For operators, regulators and training organisations, this growth brings opportunity, but also sustained pressure on workforce development, qualification pipelines and training capacity.

It is within this context that the Asia Pacific Aviation Training Summit (APATS) will convene in its new location in Bangkok from 31 August to 2 September. The move places APATS at the heart of one of the world’s fastest‑growing aviation markets, and closer to many of the organisations now seeking scalable, high‑fidelity training solutions.

The discussions at APATS 2026 will reflect a shift from the reactive post‑pandemic hiring cycles to a more deliberate and technologically enabled approach to workforce readiness. Artificial intelligence, data‑supported assessment, predictive maintenance and enhanced simulation are entering day‑to‑day training and operational decision-making. The challenge now lies in practical, safe and cost‑effective implementation.

The call for papers is open across four focused tracks, each aligned to priority issues shaping the region’s training requirements:

Pilot Training

The rise in GNSS interference and GPS spoofing incidents is prompting operators to examine how best to prepare crews for emerging navigation and security risks. APATS seeks contributions addressing these challenges alongside continued refinement of CBTA frameworks and evidence‑driven instructional strategies.

Maintenance Training

With demand for maintenance personnel outstripping supply, training providers are re‑evaluating instructor standardisation and the role of immersive technologies in compressing training timelines. Submissions should offer practical insights into developing competent technicians while maintaining the highest safety benchmarks.

Cabin Crew Training

Behaviour, wellbeing and leadership in the cabin remain central to safety performance. APATS welcomes data‑informed approaches to managing disruptive passenger behaviour, strengthening teamwork and improving crew resilience in high‑tempo operations.

Ab Initio / ATO

As airlines anticipate long‑term pilot demand, strengthening the relationship between ATOs and operators is critical. Presenters are encouraged to share lessons learned in MPL programme development, pipeline reliability and improving the affordability and accessibility of pilot training.

A Platform for Applied Knowledge

APATS remains a forum for practical, operationally grounded discussion. With participation expected from more than 50 operators, regulators and training organisations, the emphasis is on case studies, validated approaches and techniques that have been proven in frontline environments.

If your organisation is trialling new training technologies, refining competency assessments, or implementing novel methods to improve workforce throughput and retention, the APATS community would benefit from your experience.

Call for Papers

Submissions are open until 23 March 2026.

We invite:

• A 250–300 word abstract focused on actionable, non‑commercial insights.
• A brief recorded video, introducing your topic and presentation style.
• A professional bio and headshot.

APATS 2026 seeks contributions that will help the region develop a safe, skilled and future‑ready aviation workforce. We look forward to receiving your proposals.