Airbus Appoints Brian Maas as Head of Standardization for Sevenair Academy in Portugal

Portugal – Airbus has appointed Brian Maas as Head of Standardization for Sevenair Academy, its Airbus Flight Academy network partner in Ponte de Sor, Portugal. The appointment supports the implementation of Airbus training standards, instructor development and competency-based cadet training at the Portuguese flight school.

• Maas is a professional pilot and flight instructor whose background includes Airbus Flight Academy Europe, with qualifications covering commercial pilot, instrument and multi-engine flight instruction.
• The position involves overseeing instructor standardization, cadet training and screening, regulatory compliance and the application of Airbus training methodologies at Sevenair Academy. The role also serves as a coordination link between the academy and Airbus training functions in Toulouse.
• Sevenair Academy joined the Airbus Flight Academy network in November 2025 under an agreement to deliver ab-initio pilot training using Airbus' standardized curriculum and Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) methodology.
• In September 2026, Airbus announced a training agreement with All Nippon Airways (ANA), under which Sevenair Academy will deliver ab-initio training for ANA Group and partner-airline cadets. The first cohort of 19 students is scheduled to begin training before the end of 2026.
• AFM previously reported that Airbus was recruiting a permanent Head of Standardisation for Sevenair Academy in May 2026. The advertised role allocated 40% of its responsibilities to Airbus standardization and local instructor standards, with additional responsibilities covering cadet training, regulatory administration and coordination with Airbus' central training organization.

Learn more about Sevenair Academy or connect with Brian Maas via his LinkedIn profile here.

About Sevenair Academy
Sevenair Academy is a Portuguese EASA-approved flight training organization based at Ponte de Sor Aerodrome, delivering Integrated ATPL, modular pilot training and the Airbus Pilot Cadet Training Program. Its fleet directory lists 44 aircraft, comprising five Cessna 150/152s, eight Tecnam P2008s, 11 Piper PA-28s, 12 Diamond DA40s, three Tecnam P2006Ts and five Diamond DA42s, alongside four flight simulators.

Source: Brian Maas (Airbus)