Boeing’s Training & Flight Services subsidiary has been granted provisional approval for its 787 Dreamliner pilot training courses by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). With the 787 pilot training courses, pilots can transition to the new airplane in five to 20 days, depending on pilot experience, the company said in a statement adding that Boeing 777 pilots can qualify to fly the 787 in as little as five days, given the high level of commonality between the two airplane types.

Boeing Training & Flight Services is working with the FAA to obtain provisional approval of the training devices at which point formal pilot training will commence. The provisional designation will be removed once the airplane is fully certified.

The Boeing 787 pilot training program uses a sophisticated suite of training devices including a full-flight simulator, flight training device and desktop simulation station to ensure that pilots are ready to fly the Dreamliner. There are currently eight training suites at five Boeing Training & Flight Services locations in Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Seattle and Gatwick.