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Ireland’s Atlantic Flight Training Academy Hosts MTU Global Business and Pilot Studies Students in March 2025

Ireland – Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) welcomed students from the MTU Global Business and Pilot Studies Programme for an immersive tour of its training facilities.

  • Led by Chief Flight Instructor Dan, the visit provided students with a firsthand look at AFTA’s flight operations, aircraft, maintenance hangars, and advanced simulators.
  • The highlight of the tour was a hands-on experience flying the Diamond DA42 simulator.
  • The visit serves as a key introduction for students who will return in June to begin their pilot training at AFTA.
  • AFTA continues to strengthen its partnership with Munster Technological University (MTU) in preparing future pilots for the aviation industry.

Source: Atlantic Flight Training Academy
Photo Credit: Atlantic Flight Training Academy

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Emirates Expanding Global Pilot Recruitment Roadshow in Europe, Central and Latin America in 2025

United Arab Emirates – Emirates is set to continue its 2025 global pilot recruitment roadshow, with upcoming stops in Europe, Central and Latin America. The initiative provides aspiring and experienced pilots an opportunity to meet Emirates’ Pilot Recruitment Team and learn more about career opportunities with the airline.

  • Emirates’s recruitment team will visit multiple countries in the coming months:
    • April: Italy
    • May: Norway, Finland, Sweden
    • June: Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina
  • The roadshow offers insights into the airline’s recruitment process, from application to assessment.
  • Attendees will learn about career pathways, including Direct Entry Captain and Accelerated Command programs.
  • The sessions will cover Emirates’ operations, fleet (Airbus and Boeing), and life in Dubai.
  • Pilots and their partners are welcome to attend.

Source:

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Latvia’s airBaltic Pilot Academy Trained Over Half of Airline’s First Officers

Latvia – airBaltic’s Pilot Academy has reached a remarkable milestone – more than half of the airline’s First Officers are now graduates of the academy.

To date, 131 graduates have joined the airline as First Officers, further highlighting the academy’s growing reputation as one of the leading aviation training institutions in the region and underlining airBaltic’s commitment to developing highly skilled pilots within its ranks.

Since its establishment, the airBaltic Pilot Academy has been dedicated to providing high-quality pilot training that combines rigorous theoretical education with hands-on flight experience. The academy’s structured programme ensures cadets are well prepared to transition smoothly into the airline’s cockpits. This approach has proven highly successful, with an increasing number of academy graduates earning positions as First Officers on airBaltic’s modern feet of Airbus A220-300 aircraft.

The airline’s decision to invest in its pilot training programme has resulted in a continuous stream of talented aviators, reducing dependency on external pilot recruitment. By training pilots in-house, airBaltic ensures that its crew members are familiar with the airline’s operational standards, culture, and safety procedures. This strategy enhances operational efficiency and strengthens the airline’s long-term stability.

Kristaps Lapsa, who is the general manager of airBaltic Training, has emphasised the importance of this milestone: “The Pilot Academy has continuously evolved to provide the best possible training for future pilots. Seeing our graduates take their places in the cockpits of our feet is a proud moment for our entire training team. This achievement showcases the academy’s effectiveness in preparing cadets for a dynamic career in aviation.”

As airBaltic continues to grow and expand its operations, the Pilot Academy remains a crucial element of the airline’s development strategy. With a steady influx of new cadets and a clear pathway from training to employment, the academy plays a vital role in shaping the future of airBaltic’s fight operations.

For aspiring pilots, this milestone is a testament to the academy’s success and ability to provide a direct route to a commercial airline career. As demand for skilled pilots increases worldwide, the airBaltic Pilot Academy serves as a model for how airlines can secure their future by nurturing talent from within.

Source: airBaltic’s Pilot Academy
Photo Credit: airBaltic’s Pilot Academy

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Paragon Flight’s Chief Flight Instructor Talks About Flight Training Process as Airline Incidents Put Safety in the Spotlight

Fort Myers, Fla., USA – Paragon Flight Training, an award-winning flight training school based at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida, is currently training more than 350 pilots. At a time when recent airline crashes and near misses have put all facets of aviation under the microscope, Paragon Flight has been at the forefront of leading industry discussions on safety in training. According to Chief Flight Instructor Jeffrey Wolf, because the aviation industry analyzes and garners lessons learned from aircraft accidents and incidents, there may be opportunities to enhance flight training curriculum, but the immediate response at the flight training level is to continue to reinforce established safety best practices.

“There is a heightened awareness on safety now, and we are using it to hammer home an already recurring theme of situational awareness – see and be seen – which is so critical to flight training from its earliest stages,” Wolf said. “Beyond tower radio information reports and GPS, being keenly aware of airspace traffic is critical to becoming and remaining an exceptional pilot. We consider it part of our law of primacy in flight training– that what you learn first, sticks with you.”

Wolf, the 2021/2022 recipient of the Excellence in Pilot Training award from the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), obtained his pilot certificate as a teen in 2002 when general aviation simulator training was in its relative infancy. He credits modern simulator technology with the ability to train students for a variety of flight scenarios that cannot be taught as effectively – or at all – in the actual aircraft.

“At Paragon Flight, we’ve made a significant investment in technology because it helps provide optimal training in tandem with in-flight training. To provide each student with an identical, controllable scenario using simulators is a tremendous advantage in learning to fly. Instructors can simulate windy weather, heavy traffic conditions and other disruptions to an otherwise predictable flight plan,” Wolf said. “Exposing students to this type of training – including targeted, replicable scenarios that can’t be performed in flight – plays a huge role in engaging our students throughout the flight training process, developing their situational awareness and confidence, and capitalizing on our safety-first mindset.”

Paragon Flight’s approach to safe flight training is the same whether a student is pursuing a commercial pilot’s license or a recreational license.

“Among our student population, it’s about 50/50 commercial and recreational. Our curriculum for certification is identical for the commercial pilot and the recreational pilot and they train together,” Wolf said. “To differentiate would be a disservice to recreational pilots who also need the safety-first mentality from day one.”

Wolf adds that flight training and piloting is a high-intensity environment.

“To my knowledge, no pilot who graduated from Paragon Flight has ever been rejected during the rigorous onboarding/training process of a commercial airline,” Wolf said. “From flight training to the real world, it’s tough, it’s strict and there is a safety mentality in the cockpit at all times. We see it as our responsibility at Paragon Flight to be preparing the world’s most qualified pilot applicants.”

About Paragon Flight Training
Paragon Flight is an award-winning flight school headquartered at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida. Holding FAA and SEVIS accreditations, the company trains commercial, professional, and recreational pilots as well as offering military pilot training for domestic and foreign governments. With multiple locations in Florida and Georgia, Paragon Flight now has more than 34,000 square feet of training facilities in the Southeastern United States.

Source: Paragon Flight Training
Photo Credit: Paragon Flight Training

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European Heli Center and Reiser Simulation and Training Announce Landmark Contract for New Helicopter Training Center

Netherlands – European Heli Center (EHC) and Reiser Simulation and Training GmbH (REISER) are proud to announce a significant contract: REISER will deliver an H135/H145 Level D full-flight simulator to the brand new European Heli Center based at Lelystad Airport, near Amsterdam.

Signed on the opening day of the VERTICON Show in Dallas, this milestone represents a substantial advancement in helicopter pilot and crew training, considerably enhancing helicopter training capabilities in Central Europe.

EHC is establishing a brand-new world-class helicopter training center in Lelystad, featuring REISER’s proven H135/H145 Level D full-flight simulator. The next-generation training devicereplicates the latest aircraft standards. Its versatile roll-on/roll-off mothership allows seamless training of both H135 and H145 helicopter types in one simulator. Training is scheduled to start by the end of 2026.

The new training center will serve as EHC’s headquarters, offering comprehensive pilot and crew training programs for civilian, commercial, military, offshore, and emergency medical services (EMS) sectors. The facility will provide advanced training solutions, including mission-specific courses designed to improve operational safety and efficiency.

Strategically located near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, the center offers exceptional accessibility with direct flights from almost every part of the world – a major advantage for pilots, crew, and operators worldwide.

Collaboration with Bristow Nigeria

As part of its expansion, EHC has partnered with Bristow Nigeria, a division of the Bristow Group, to provide pilot training solutions for the H135 helicopter. Under this collaboration, Bristow will be one of the main customers utilizing the H135 full-flight simulator at the new training center. This partnership ensures that Bristow’s pilots receive world-class training, further strengthening operational safety and efficiency in offshore operations.

“We are delighted to partner with EHC in their ambitious endeavor to create a world-class training center,” said Dr. Johannes Hain, REISER CEO. “The contract marks another milestone in our history as Europe’s renowned manufacturer of helicopter full-flight simulators. With this agreement, we further strengthen our market position, expand our market share, and consolidate our leadership in the aviation training industry.

Mr. Jeroen Peddemors, CEO of European Heli Center, added: “By combining our extensive training expertise with REISER’s cutting-edge simulation systems, we are creating the most modern and comprehensive helicopter training center in the world. This partnership reinforces our commitment to providing the highest quality training to meet the evolving needs of the global helicopter industry.”

About Reiser Simulation and Training
REISER Simulation and Training GmbH has been leading the revolution in aviation training for over three decades. With a distinctive German engineering touch, REISER has been delivering innovations globally, enhancing the efficiency and safety of flight personnel training worldwide. Our simulators and training devices minimize the ecological footprint associated with traditional training methods but also conserve vital resources. REISER‘s commitment to sustainability is evident in every aspect of our operations.

About European Heli Center
With more than 45 years of experience, European Heli Center is a leading provider of helicopter pilot training and operational services. Currently operating training bases in the Netherlands and Norway, the center offers a full range of specialized training solutions. The new headquarters will expand its capacity to meet the growing demand for specialized training in the global helicopter industry, offering programs from foundational flight training to advanced mission-specific courses. Equipped with a fleet of 21 helicopters and a team of expert instructors, the European Heli Center is committed to delivering the highest standards in helicopter training, ensuring the safety and proficiency of pilots worldwide.EHC is also a proud member of the Leading Helicopter Academies (LHA), a global network of premier helicopter training organizations.

Source: European Heli Center and Reiser Simulation and Training
Photo Credit: European Heli Center and Reiser Simulation and Training

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