Pilot Training Conference
WATS is entirely dedicated to airline simulation and training, allowing you to discover the latest innovative training solutions for pilots. Supported by the training industry and subject matter experts, the WATS 2025 Pilot Training Conference will provide practical solutions for those day to day challenges and offer key insights into the future of the industry.
Pilot Conference Moderator: Rick Adams
Day 1 – Tuesday 8th April 2025
0900-1030 Session 1 – Opening Remarks & Keynote Presentations (all streams)
1) Jennifer Homendy, Chair, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
2) TBD
3) Jean-Michel Bigarré, President & Founder, AMFTA
Panel Discussion
1030-1115 Coffee Break
1115-1245 Session 2 – Looking at the Future
1) Ade Ajayi, Director of Global Sales, Reality Lab, Meta
2) Captain Philip Adrian, Co-Chair, ATPG
Future Training Solutions for Future Generations
3) John Cunningham, COO, The VR/AR Association
AR/VR Digital Twins
1245-1415 Lunch
1415-1545 Session 3 – AI/Data Analytics
1) Captain Stéphan Labrucherie, Head of Flight Training Worldwide, Airbus
Training, Data & Us
2) TBD
3) Blake Donovan, Leadership Learning Design Program Manager, Delta Air Lines & Hillary Belcher, Fleet Common Design Program Manager, Delta Air Lines
Developing a New Generation of Pilots with AI-Driven Learning Experiences
1545-1630 Coffee Break
1630-1800 Session 4 – EXPO TIME
1800-1900 Networking Reception in Exhibition Hall
Day 2 – Wednesday 9th April 2025
0900-1030 Session 5 – CBTA
1) Kristy Kiernan, Associate Director, Boeing Center for Aviation & Aerospace Safety, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University & Joel Samu, PhD Student, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univeristy
Learning From All Operations: Where Safety and Training Intersect
2) Steve Dennis, Vice President of Training Design, CPaT Global
Microlearning and its Role in CBTA/EBT Training Programs
3) Andy O’Shea, CEO, The Airline Pilot Club & Cedric Paillard, COO, The Airline Pilot Club
Adaptive Learning for Instructor & Pilot Performance
1030-1115 Coffee Break
1115-1245 Session 6 – CBTA/EBT
1) Captain Stuart Gruber, Senior Airline Training Deployment Manager, Boeing
2) Thomas Bessiere, CEO, HINFACT
Data-Driven CBTA & EBT Implementation
3) Francisco Herrera-La Rue, Co-Founder, Aviatrix Aerial Training Solutions LLC & Vicente Garcia, Flight Instructor, Aero Mexico Airlines
How to Train for Competencies Without Losing Your Mind
1245-1415 Lunch
1415-1545 Session 7 – Human Factors
1) Aleksandra Kapela, Associate Aviation Psychologist, Symbiotics Ltd.
Gen Z in the Cockpit: A Data-Driven Examination of Their Impact on Aviation Practices
2) James Cooley, Assistant Professor, University of North Dakota
From Rescues to Readiness: Strengthening Human Factors for High-Stakes Performance
3) Kimberly Perkins, B787 Airline Pilot & Research Scientist, United Airlines & University of Washington
Operationalizing Pilot Competencies: Interpersonal Skills for Sociotechnical Systems
1545-1630 Coffee Break
1630-1800 Session 8 – Emerging Technology
1) Dre Fournier, Vice President of Growth, HTX Labs
Leveraging Human Performance Data & AI to Enable Competency Based Training
2) Julian Abich PhD, Senior Human Factors Engineer, Quantum Improvements Consulting
Overcoming Barriers to XR Adoption
3) Maximilian Zweybrücken, Product Manager Pilot Training/FO A320, Lufthansa Group & Gilad Scherpf, Senior Director Aviation Training Development/SFO B747, Lufthansa Group
VR in Flight Crew Training
Day 3 – Thursday 10th April 2025
0900-1030 Session 9 – Manual Flying/UPRT
1) TBD
2) Florian Jentsch, Professor & Chair, Dept. of Psychology & IST, University Central Florida
Key Thoughts on the Use of XR & AI in Aviation Training
3) Dino Garner, Author, Frontier Insights LLC
Elevating Aviation Training Through the Power of Storytelling
1030-1115 Coffee Break
1115-1245 Session 10 – Emerging Technology (all streams)
1) Nigel Sargent, Director Flight Simulator Operations, Alaska Airlines
Additional Capabilities of FTDs
2) Fabi Riesen, CEO & Founder, Loft Dynamics
Faster, Safer Pilots
3) Samuel Chandra, Managing Director, Deepsky
Using Agentic AI to Personalise Theory Delivery
1245 Closing Remarks
