Archives: Market Intelligences

US Flight School Hillsboro Aero Academy Has Renewed its IS-BAO Stage 3 Safety Certification

Oregon, USA – Hillsboro Aero Academy (HAA), one of the United States’ largest professional pilot training providers for both fixed-wing and rotorcraft, has renewed its International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Stage 3 Safety Certification.

  • HAA remains among the first primary flight academies in the U.S. to achieve and maintain IS-BAO Stage 3, the highest safety certification standard established by the International Business Aviation Council.

  • The certification reflects a mature, fully implemented Safety Management System (SMS) with an anonymous, real-time reporting system accessible to students and staff, enabling immediate hazard identification and trend analysis.

  • HAA’s safety protocols extend beyond SMS, including an FAA-approved repair station managed by factory-authorized mechanics and inspectors, supporting fleet safety and regulatory compliance.

Statements

  • “Achieving and now renewing our IS-BAO Stage 3 certification as the first flight academy in the nation represents more than just meeting safety standards—it demonstrates our commitment to setting the benchmark for aviation training excellence. This certification validates our comprehensive approach to safety that has guided our operations for over four decades,” said Natalia Cimpean, President at Hillsboro Aero Academy.

Source: Hillsboro Aero Academy
Photo Credit: Hillsboro Aero Academy

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Acron Aviation Academy Welcomes First Class of 2026

Florida, USA – Acron Aviation Academy, the Sanford flight training base of Acron Aviation, has welcomed its first class of 2026 with around 17 new cadets beginning their journey toward professional pilot careers. This follows around 35 aspiring pilots starting across its October and November intake.

In October the Academy had announced a limited-time promotional offer for students beginning their full flight training programmes in November or December 2025.

  • Students which enrolled in Acron Aviation Academy’s full training programme by December 2025 could choose between:

    • 10 additional Multi-Engine flight hours, saving up to $4,000, or

    • 20 additional Single-Engine flight hours, saving up to $5,500

Source: Acron Aviation Academy
Photo Credit: Acron Aviation Academy

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Czech Flight Training Group F AIR Advances ATPL Theory Training Phase in Karlovy Vary Base

Czech Republic – FF AIR, one of Eastern Europe’s largest flight training groups by fleet size, has progressed another phase of its Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) theory course in Karlovy Vary base.

F AIR has facilities located at three bases:

  • Prague/Benešov Airport
  • Karlovy Vary International Airport
  • Brno International Airport.

Source: F AIR
Photo Credit: F AIR

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Flight Simulator Manufacturer to Showcase Mixed Reality Simulator at FSANA 2026 in California

California, USA – True Course Simulations, a developer of innovative flight simulation solutions, will be exhibiting at the 17th Annual International Flight School Operators Conference & Trade Show (FSANA 2026) to be held at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in Coronado (San Diego) from 25–27 February 2026. The company will showcase its Mixed Reality Cessna 172 Immersive Flight Simulator, underscoring its focus on enhancing pilot training through blended real‑world hardware and immersive visual technologies.

Earlier this month AFM reported how True Course Simulations, a provider of virtual reality flight training solutions, published a feature explaining why Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) training can be easier and more effective when student pilots begin their preparation in a VR flight simulator, highlighting benefits for flight schools, instructors, and students alike.

  • IFR training is widely recognised as one of the most demanding phases of pilot certification, requiring students to rely exclusively on cockpit instruments in low‑visibility conditions and manage complex procedures, navigation, and communications.

  • True Course Simulations emphasises that starting IFR skill development in a VR flight simulator creates a risk‑free, immersive, and repeatable environment where students can familiarise themselves with instrument scanning and procedures without the constraints of aircraft scheduling, weather, or instructor availability.

  • The academy’s VR platform allows students to practise core IFR competencies — including basic instrument scanning, holding pattern entries, VOR navigation, ILS and RNAV approaches, and missed approach procedures — with flexibility and immediate feedback not typically available in traditional aircraft or fixed simulators.

  • By reinforcing procedural memory and cognitive workflows in a less stressful setting, VR training helps students build confidence earlier, enabling them to use actual aircraft time more efficiently and reducing training bottlenecks.

  • True Course notes that VR does not replace FAA‑certified flight training devices (FTDs) or live flight instruction but rather supports accelerated learning, helping students enter formal IFR training better prepared and allowing instructors to focus on refining performance rather than on repetitive basics.

  • Flight schools benefit from VR preparation through reduced aircraft wear, lower operational costs, and fewer scheduling conflicts, while instructors can review performance data and target ground lessons more effectively.

Source: True Course Simulations
Photo Credit: True Course Simulations

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