Flight Simulator Firm Blames Bankruptcy on Budget Airline Stress

A bankrupt operator of flight simulators used to help train commercial airline pilots attributed its struggles to the market downturn stressing budget airlines like Spirit Aviation.

Florida-based Avenger Flight Group sought court protection Thursday with a lender-supported plan to sell its business at a potential Chapter 11 auction. The company listed assets and liabilities each of between $100 million and $500 million on its bankruptcy petition.

The firm said it operates 11 training centers in four countries and runs 50 full-flight simulators, some of which it owns and others it leases, according to court papers. Generally, pilots train in ...