Operational Readiness Through Training Innovation for Tomorrow's Aircrew
Recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Israel-Iran theater have fundamentally reshaped operational realities, exposing critical gaps in how we prepare military aviators for modern warfare. Today's threat environments demand training systems that go far beyond what legacy platforms were designed to deliver.
As nations face major procurement transitions, military aviation leaders are confronting unprecedented challenges:
Persistent pilot shortages threatening operational readiness
Evolving mission requirements that outpace current training capabilities
Multi-domain operations requiring new pilot competencies
Information saturation in increasingly contested environments
Human-machine teaming with unmanned systems
Where Strategy Meets Innovation
As we celebrate our 25th Anniversary, MFTC provides an unrivalled platform for airpower leaders, training experts, and technology innovators to address the most pressing questions facing military aviation training today:
How do we accelerate pilot readiness without compromising quality?
What training technologies can bridge the gap between simulation and reality?
How do we prepare pilots for multi-domain, information-rich battlespaces?
Which procurement strategies deliver both capability and value?
The future of military aviation depends on the training decisions we make today. Be part of the solution.
Military Flight Training 2026 will address training challenges and opportunities for the full range of aircrews, from fixed wing to rotary wing, fast jet and multi-engine aircraft, including 5th and 6th generation fighter aircraft, to ensure that as an Alliance, we stay one step ahead, in contested environments.
Attracting 400+ leaders from across the military aviation training ecosystem from over 40 nations, Military Flight Training takes place at a time where guaranteeing air dominance and strike capability has never been tougher.
Conference Highlights
400+ Attendees
50+ Presentations
40+ Nations
10+ Networking Hours
Benefits of Attending
Access exclusive insights from Pilots and Aircrew about and their experiences and challenges that are reshaping training curricula and threat scenarios worldwide
Ensure seamless pilot transition into next generation combat aircraft by learning how to upgrade simulation, embedded training, and ground-based training systems
Explore the full aviation training spectrum with expanded coverage of rotary wing and multi-engine challenges, addressing the reality that are facing Airmen and women in the sector
Connect with decision-makers from over 40 nations simultaneously managing trainer aircraft competitions and fleet transitions across Europe, North America and Asia
Compare approaches from nations successfully adapting to Gen Z recruitment, budget constraints, and operational reality gaps.
Learn firsthand how leading air forces are integrating RPAS into manned–unmanned teaming and redefining the skillsets required for the future of multi-domain aircrew training
An excellent opportunity to understand the future direction of global Military Flying Training and the priorities, requirements and areas of interest for the attending national militaries and companies
This event is a great avenue for everyone to share and help each other grow. MFT is a great conference to see where we stand and where we want to be in the future.
FT is an excellent event to know both the state-of-theart technology in military flight training and how different countries face the challenges in this area (training)
2026 Military Flight Training Thought Leaders Include:
Lieutenant General Holger Neumann, Chief, German Air Force
Lieutenant General Francesco Vestito, Commander, Italian Air Force Education and Training Command, Italian Air Force
Lieutenant General Clark Quinn, Commander, Air Education Training Command (AETC) Deputy Commander, United States Air Force
Air Vice-Marshal Ian Sharrocks, Commanding Officer, No 22 Group, Royal Air Force
Major General Christian Oppliger, Commander, Swiss Air Force
Major General Jeff Smyth, Chief Air & Space Force Development, Royal Canadian Air Force
Brigadier General Christopher Amrhein, Director of Operations and Communications, Air Education & Training Command (AETC)
Brigadier General Cihangir Kemal Yüzçelik, Commander 2nd Main Jet Base, Turkish Air Force
Brigadier General Oliver Kaladjian, Commanding General, French Air and Space Force Academy
Air Commodore Brett Williams, Officer Commanding Air Academy, Royal Australian Air Force
Brigadier General Paolo Rubino, Chief of Staff, Air Education Training Command, Italian Air Force
Commodore Anthony Savage, Director General Navy Aviation, Aircrew Training and CommonsRoyal Australian Navy
Brigadier General Krzysztof Cur PhD, Commandant, Polish Air Force University
Air Commodore Rob Caine, Head of Flying Training, Royal Air Force
Colonel Daniel Fernández de Bobadilla, Commander 23rd Fighter Wing, Spanish Air and Space Force
Colonel Laurianne Denis, Director Air Simulation and Training, Canadian Armed Forces
Colonel Daniel “James” Pfiffner, Commander, Swiss Air Force Pilot School
Colonel Roger Waleski Jr., Commander, US Army Special Operations Aviation Command
Lieutenant Colonel Zoltán SZILI, Deputy Commander, MHTC
Group Captain Mike Jordan, Commandant No 1 Flying Training School and DCASO, Royal Air Force
Lieutenant Colonel Kirk Teufel, Commandant, Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, US Air Force
Lieutenant Colonel Erik Frijters, Head of Department for Operational Training and Readiness, Center for Man in Aviation Aerospace and Operational Physiology Department Mini
Lieutenant Colonel Arne Boost, SME Training Transport Pilots, German Air Force
Lieutenant Colonel Ralf Müllhaupt, Chief Air Mobility, Aviation Brigade 31, Swiss Air Force
Wing Commander Stuart Phillips, Officer Commanding 54 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Commander Jean Duboin, Navy Rafale Program Manager, French Navy
Richard Curzon, Head Air Mobility & Air Enablers, Royal Air Force
Peter Saunders, Director General - NORAD Continental Defence Modernization Office, RCAF
Frederic Dehais, Neuroergonomics & Human Factors Lab, DCAS, ISAE-SUPAERO / Groupe ISAE
Jason Hawker, Principal Officer NATO Flying Training Europe, NSPA
Hayley Reynolds, Group Leader, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Justin Bronk, Senior Research Fellow for Airpower, RUSI
Giuseppe Pietroniro, Vice President of Simulation and Training Systems, Leonardo SpA - Aircraft Division
Dario Marfè, Aeronautics Division - Aircraft Business Unit Managing Director, Leonardo
Lt. General David Nahom, Former Commander, Alaskan Command, US Air Force
Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Anthony J. Rock, Former Inspector General, U.S. Air Force
Please fill in your name and email to receive the Conference Agenda of this event.
Venue
Hotel & Conference Center Sempachersee Guido A. Zäch Str. 2, 6207 Lucerne, Nottwil, Switzerland
Phone: +41 41 939 23 23
Reservation Method Reserve your room by clicking on this reservation link. We have reserved a selection of rooms at a discounted group rate, subject to availability
