AviaSim Pau: Airbus A320 Flight Simulator at the Birthplace of European Aviation

Flight Simulator Pau — Airbus A320 at AviaSim, Idron

Few cities in the world can claim a deeper connection to the origins of aviation than Pau. In February 1909, Wilbur and Orville Wright came to Pau to continue their flight training — making it one of the first places in Europe where powered flight was practiced and witnessed in public. Thousands came from across France and Europe to watch from the slopes of the Pyrénées foothills as the Wright Flyer circled above the Pont-Long plain. Aviation, in Pau, is not just a modern convenience. It is a founding story.

AviaSim Pau places a full 1:1 scale Airbus A320 cockpit in that same city — at 9 Route de Tarbes in Idron, just south of the urban centre, at the foot of the Pyrénées. As an independent centre in France’s number one flight simulator network, it offers the complete AviaSim experience in one of the country’s most historically resonant aviation locations. Sessions are open to everyone from the age of 10, no experience required, with a professional pilot instructor guiding every phase from briefing through to landing.

The Airbus A320 Simulator

The simulator at AviaSim Pau is a full 1:1 scale replica of the Airbus A320 cockpit — the aircraft that today serves Pau Pyrénées Airport on daily connections to Paris Orly, Lyon, and beyond. Authentic fly-by-wire sidestick controls, throttle quadrant, ECAM displays, and autopilot are all operational, combined with a 180° photorealistic HD visual system spanning 24,000 airports worldwide.

Natural choices for a Pau session include Pau Pyrénées itself, Biarritz, Toulouse-Blagnac, Bordeaux-Mérignac, or the spectacular mountain approaches at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées — one of the most visually striking airport environments in southwest France, nestled between the Pyrénées massif and the Gascon plains. Alternatively, fly any airport in the world: the choice is made with your instructor at the start of the session.

Up to three guests can join you in the rear cockpit seats at no additional cost. Sessions are instructor-led throughout, with the professional pilot adapting entirely to your level. Minimum age approximately 10 years, minimum height 1m10.

Session Options

Three packages are available at AviaSim Pau:

Découverte Avion de Ligne — 45 minutes at the controls of the Airbus A320 for €109, from takeoff to landing. The classic AviaSim experience and the most popular gift choice in the Béarn and Pays Basque region.

Forfait Duo — 60 minutes shared between two pilots for €169. One as captain, one as first officer, dividing cockpit responsibilities under instructor guidance. An ideal format for couples, friends, and parent-child sessions — particularly resonant in a city where aviation enthusiasm runs deep.

Forfait Évasion — 80 minutes for €199, covering every phase of flight from pre-departure checks through cruise, descent, multiple approaches, and landing, with time for advanced manoeuvres.

Pack Extra — up to 2 hours for those wanting maximum time in the cockpit. All packages available as gift vouchers — a digital boarding pass delivered instantly by email, valid for 12 months, no name, date, or price shown.

Fear of Flying Programme

The Stage Peur en Avion at AviaSim Pau is a 6-hour individual programme with a 97% success rate, developed over more than 10 years. In a city with a long tradition of watching aircraft — and, for many residents, flying regularly from Pau Pyrénées on Air France connections through Orly — flight anxiety is a particularly common and well-recognised experience. The programme uses the A320 simulator to demystify every phase of commercial flight from the cockpit: what the crew see, hear, and feel during turbulence, power changes, gear deployment, and approach. Understanding those sensations from the front of the aircraft changes how they feel from the back. Bookable by phone or contact form.

Corporate and Team Building

AviaSim Pau has a dedicated meeting room with seminar facilities, making it a strong choice for corporate team building events in the Béarn. The independent centre format means a more intimate, personalised experience than the larger hotel-based locations — well suited to smaller corporate groups wanting a distinctive half-day activity in the Pau area.

Plan Your Visit

AviaSim Pau is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00, at 9 Route de Tarbes, 64320 Idron — just south of Pau city centre on the D817. By car from central Pau, head south on the Route de Tarbes for approximately 5 minutes. Ample on-site parking is available. Book online at aviasim.fr or call +33 5 59 61 39 03. For weekdays, book at least 10 days ahead; for weekends, one month’s notice is recommended.