Malaysia Aviation Group’s (MAG) training arm, MAB Academy, has officially launched its new Simulator Building in Sepang. This marks a major milestone in the group’s long-term plan to strengthen aviation training, safety and talent development in Malaysia and the wider region.
The facility, located at the South Support Zone in Sepang, houses six full-flight simulator bays, including the Airbus A330neo, Boeing 737-800NG and ATR 72-500, which are aircraft types operated within MAG’s airline portfolio, including Malaysia Airlines and Firefly.
According to MAG, the new building is designed to provide a more focused training environment, with layouts that encourage close instructor–trainee interaction and consistent training delivery.
The launch was officiated by Malaysia’s Minister of Transport YB Loke Siew Fook, alongside senior leaders from Malaysia Aviation Group and Khazanah Nasional Berhad. The opening also marks the completion of MAB Academy’s transition from its 40-year-old Subang Training Centre to a consolidated, purpose-built campus in Sepang.
A key highlight of the new Simulator Building is its integrated safety and emergency training infrastructure. This includes a Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer (CEET), which provides realistic training for new cabin crew in door operation, passenger management and evacuation slide handling during emergency evacuations.
There is also a water survival training pool with wave simulation, described as the first facility of its kind in Malaysia dedicated to aviation training.
According to MAG, the training pool raises the bar for realism and safety preparedness.
Transport Minister YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook said, “MAG is investing in advanced training and simulation through MAB Academy to ensure our aviation professionals are fully prepared. This strengthens safety standards, builds operational capability, and positions Malaysia as a reliable and capable aviation hub in the region.”
Meanwhile, MAG Group Managing Director Datuk Captain Izham Ismail said, “The launch of MAB Academy’s new Simulator Building marks an important milestone in our long-term transformation journey and supports our Long-Term Business Plan 3.0 (LTBP 3.0), which focuses on disciplined, sustainable growth and operational leadership. Our focus has always been on preparing aviation professionals for the realities of operations, and this facility strengthens that commitment by ensuring training is relevant, rigorous, and grounded in real-world experience.
In addition, the new building is also greener. According to MAG, MAB Academy is the first aviation training centre in Malaysia to receive the Green Building Index (GBI) certification, which underscores the group’s commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency and environmentally responsible design.
As shared by Captain Izham, they have migrated their simulators and key training equipment from Subang since July 2025. The Airbus A330neo Full Flight simulator at MAB Academy is also the first in Southeast Asia, which strengthens its widebody training capability.
The academy is also looking forward to add a Boeing 737-8 Full Flight Simulator, which is expected to be operational by July 2026. The next generation simulator will further strengthen technical training capacity and support the evolving fleet and operational requirements of airlines across the region.
In 2025 alone, MAB Academy has conducted over 5,000 classes covering aviation, hospitality and professional development, representing over 144,000 student man-days of training.
Approximately 50% of the training is focused on pilot and cabin crew-related programmes including the development of more than 400 new cabin crew and over 70 new cadet pilots.
MAB Academy is an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and they currently offer close to 200 specialised training programmes serving airlines, corporations, aviation professionals and international students.
With the new Simulator Building, MAB Academy aims to cement its role as a regional training powerhouse, to support industry growth while contributing to Malaysia’s aspiration to become a global aviation hub.
