Archives: Market Intelligences

NFTA Signals Major Milestones Ahead for Flight Training Reform in 2026

USA – The National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA) has closed out 2025 by highlighting a year of policy progress, legislative impact, and organisational growth for the U.S. flight training sector, with a strong focus on safety and regulatory modernisation.

  • NFTA described 2025 as a “banner year” for the association and its member organisations, reflecting sustained engagement across flight training, safety advocacy, and regulatory reform.

  • A central milestone remains FAA Part 141 Modernization, characterised by NFTA as a generational and monumental effort, with a major inflection point expected in early February 2026.

  • The alliance reported legislative success with two bills passed in 2025, and several additional initiatives positioned for potential passage in 2026, reinforcing NFTA’s growing influence in Washington.

  • Membership and organisational reach continued to expand in 2025; however, NFTA’s board has indicated a measured approach to growth to ensure long-term sustainability and effective member support.

  • NFTA’s advocacy efforts continue to position flight training as a critical safety and workforce pillar within the broader U.S. aviation ecosystem, particularly as airline pilot demand and training throughput increase.

Looking Ahead to 2026

  • NFTA has outlined a busy start to 2026, including participation in:

    • University Aviation Association Winter Legislative Conference

    • Part 141 modernization meetings in Dallas

    • Kentucky State Transportation Cabinet Winter Conference on January 16

Statements

  • “Thank you to our Directors, members, and industry partners for your leadership, collaboration, and commitment throughout the year,” said Lee Collins, CEO of the National Flight Training Alliance. “We look forward to continuing this important work together in 2026.”

Source: National Flight Training Alliance

Related Posts

European Flight Training Group GreyBird Pilot Academy to Expand to Norway in 2026

Denmark – headquartered GreyBird Pilot Academy, a flight training group in Europe, has confirmed plans to expand operations into Norway in 2026, marking the next step in its strategy to build a fully integrated Nordic pilot training platform aligned with airline demand.

  • The announcement follows GreyBird’s recent launch of its first training class in Helsinki, scheduled to begin on 13 January, where demand has exceeded expectations and initial class size has doubled versus original planning.

  • GreyBird’s expansion into Norway will complement its existing and planned footprint across Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, creating a multi-country Nordic training network.

  • As part of the Norway expansion, GreyBird has begun active recruitment for local roles, indicating early-stage execution planning ahead of formal operational launch details.

Statements

  • “Our ambition remains clear: to become the European market leader in commercial pilot education — and to do it the right way, with quality and long-term partnerships at the core” said Jørgen Sørensen Stensgaard, CEO of GreyBird Pilot Academy.

In November 2024 GreyBird Aviation Group, the company behind Denmark’s largest and one of the leading pilot schools in the Nordics, GreyBird Pilot Academy, had sold a significant minority stake to the Danish private equity firm, Dansk Ejerkapital. This strategic partnership aims to propel the academy’s ambitious growth plans, including expansion into multiple European markets.

Source: GreyBird Pilot Academy

Related Posts

USA’s Paragon Flight Training Expands Piper Fleet to 38 Aircraft Ahead of 20th Anniversary

Florida, USA – Paragon Flight Training, an FAA- and SEVIS-accredited flight training group headquartered at Page Field in Fort Myers, has taken delivery of two additional Piper Aircraft P100i, expanding its owned training fleet to 38 aircraft as it enters the final stretch of a five-year fleet modernisation programme ahead of its 20th anniversary in 2026.

  • The two Piper P100i aircraft were delivered on December 16, marking Paragon’s 37th and 38th aircraft and completing the third year of a strategic five-year fleet acquisition plan targeting a total of 50 Piper aircraft.

  • Paragon operates an entirely Piper-based training fleet, supported by ALSIM flight training simulators, reinforcing a standardised, airline-aligned training environment.

  • The academy’s long-term strategy has focused on owning rather than leasing aircraft, a deliberate shift implemented more than a decade ago to improve operational control, dispatch reliability, and long-term cost efficiency.

  • The fleet expansion supports Paragon’s continued growth across its training locations in Fort Myers and Punta Gorda, Florida, and LaGrange, Georgia.

  • Paragon was founded in 2006 and has reported average annual growth of approximately 20% since inception, positioning it among the more established, professionally managed flight training organisations in the U.S. market.

  • The organisation has historically emphasised modern avionics adoption, having early-on invested in Garmin G1000-equipped aircraft as part of a broader push toward digital training environments and improved student experience.

  • As the academy approaches its 20th year, management has indicated a strategic shift from rapid expansion toward operational refinement, focusing on training quality, customer experience, and process optimisation.

Statements

  • “Ten years ago, our school was growing quickly, but we realized future success would hinge on owning – not leasing – our aircraft,” said Chris Schoensee, President of Paragon Flight Training.

  • “Now, with a fleet of 38 aircraft – and counting – comprised exclusively of Piper training aircraft, plus the leading ALSIM training simulators to complement them, we’re heading into our 20th year with strength.”

  • “We’ve been moving at warp speed for years, yet we follow a very disciplined approach,” Schoensee added. “Paragon Flight Training is going to spend some time at cruising altitude, diving in deeply to improve upon our strengths to make the school the best it’s ever been.”

Source: Paragon Flight Training

Related Posts