United Kingdom – Leading Edge Aviation Ltd. (LEAL), which operates flight training bases in the United Kingdom and Spain, has shared that UK operator TUI has selected 46 of its trainees for its Student Tagging Scheme (providing trainees with a structured pathway to employment through conditional job offers).
Source: Leading Edge Aviation
Photo Credit: Leading Edge Aviation
Kavala, Greece –Egnatia Aviation has welcomed 11 cadets in its 91st batch!
Egnatia Aviation had 137 cadets joining its training programs in 2024. Other highlights include:
Source: Egnatia Aviation
Photo Credit: Egnatia Aviation (shown as meta image)
India – Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Sh. Ram Mohan Naidu today launched the Electronic Personnel License (EPL) for Pilots, a ground-breaking initiative set to modernize and enhance the safety, security and efficiency of India’s civil aviation sector. With this advancement, India becomes the second country globally to implement this advanced system, following approval from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The EPL is a digital version of a personnel license that will replace traditional physical licenses for pilots. It will be securely accessible via the eGCA Mobile Application, ensuring a seamless and transparent process in alignment with the Government of India’s “Ease of Doing Business” and “Digital India” initiatives.
The introduction of EPL follows ICAO’s Amendment 178 to Annex 1 – Personnel Licensing, which encourages Member States to adopt electronic licenses for improved security and efficiency. While major global aviation leaders, are still in the process of implementing similar systems, India has successfully taken the lead in digital aviation solutions.
The Union Minister remarked, “With the unprecedented growth of India’s aviation sector, we will need approximately 20,000 pilots in the near future. Pilots are the backbone of civil aviation, and with eGCA and EPL, we are leveraging innovative, tech-driven solutions to enhance their comfort and employability globally, while providing real-time access to their credentials to support security operations.”
Prior to this implementation, DGCA was issuing licenses to the Pilots in the smart card format and had issued 62,000 card licenses till date. The total licenses issued in the year 2024 requiring printed cards stand at approximately 20,000 which is average of 1,667 cards per month. With the launch of EPL, the need for printed cards will be reduced in a phased manner, significantly streamlining the licensing process. Additionally, this shift will have a positive impact on environmental sustainability by reducing paper and plastic usage.
The Minister, also highlighted other transformative initiatives for reshaping Indian aviation through digital innovation and making operations more efficient. Key advancements include the eGCA platform for streamlined licensing, the Digital Sky Platform for drones, and the Electronic Flight Folder (EFF) for airline operations.
The introduction of the Electronic Personnel License (EPL) for pilots represents a significant milestone in establishing a globally recognized regulatory framework. It strengthens India’s position as a global leader in aviation innovation and ensuring a more robust and tamper-proof licensing system.
About Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
Based in New Delhi, India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the country’s regulatory body for civil aviation. It oversees safety regulations, licensing, and operational standards for aviation professionals and organizations in India.
Source: Ministry of Civil Aviation, India
USA – Flex Air Flight Training, recently recognized as the AOPA Best Regional Flight School (Pacific), has partnered with UpskillAir to enhance its pilot training programs through the integration of the MBytes microlearning platform. This collaboration aims to provide Flex Air students with a modern, efficient, and highly accessible training experience.
About Flex Air Flight Training
Headquartered in Lawrence, Kansas, USA, Flex Air Flight Training offers comprehensive pilot training programs tailored for both civilian and military pathways. The school emphasizes modern learning techniques and has been recognized by AOPA for excellence in flight training.
About UpskillAir
UpskillAir provides advanced microlearning solutions for aviation training organizations. Its MBytes platform focuses on enhancing knowledge retention through neuroscience-backed video-based instruction accessible via mobile devices.
Source: UpskillAir
Abu Dhabi, UAE – Turkish flight simulation solution provider and flight simulator manufacturer Havelsan has been selected to provide its advanced ground-based pilot training system for the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) B-250 aircraft. The collaboration was announced at the IDEX 2025 defense fair in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant milestone in the defense cooperation between Türkiye and the UAE.
Source: Turkish Media
Photo Credit: Havelsan
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – flydubai has reported its strongest financial performance since its inception, achieving a record profit before tax of AED 2.5 billion (USD 674 million) for the financial year ending 31 December 2024, marking a 16% increase compared to 2023. The airline also saw a 15% surge in annual revenue to AED 12.8 billion (USD 3.5 billion) and carried 15.4 million passengers, up 11% year-on-year.
Outlook for 2025
Source: flydubai
