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Helicopter Pilot Training Provider Coptersafety Joins the Whirly-Girls International as a Sponsor with 2 FAA AW139 Type Rating Scholarships

Vantaa, Finland based full flight simulator training center Coptersafety is happy to announce they are joining the Whirly-Girls International as a sponsor with two FAA AW139 Type Rating scholarships.

“At Coptersafety, we recognize the importance to increase diversity in the vertical aviation industry. As part of our commitment to fostering inclusivity, we are proud to announce the Whirly-Girls scholarship,” as shared by Coptersafety’s Chief Theoretical Knowledge Instructor, Matt Presnal. “By investing in women in aviation, we not only promote gender equality but also cultivate a stronger, more inclusive workforce for the future of vertical aviation. Through different initiatives, we aim to inspire a new generation of skilled and empowered pilots, regardless of their gender.”

Coptersafety is the world’s largest independent helicopter pilot training provider for commercial, government, and private organizations, offering a full range of helicopter training courses in H125, H145, AW169, and AW139 Level-D Full Flight Simulators. The Finland-based company is an EASA certified Aviation Training Organization, FAA Part-142 certified training center, and UK Part-ORA certified training organization, among others.

With a mission to improve safety in the rotary-wing industry, Coptersafety provides pilot training with Level D Full Flight Simulators. Coptersafety’s flight instructors actively fly and instruct in helicopter operations such as in HEMS, offshore, and SAR. This provides students with the knowledge of real-world operational flying experience in the helicopter they are training in, making Coptersafety a desirable training center for commercial pilots from around the world.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coptersafety to the Whirly-Girls Scholarship Program” says Fallon Blattner, VP of Scholarships for Whirly-Girls International. “The addition of this esteemed training facility and company provides unprecedented opportunity to our members and significantly aids the career advancement of women within the rotary wing industry worldwide.”

The scholarships provide an opportunity for two Whirly Girls to complete an FAA AW139 Type Rating and/or ATP Training Course, including technical ground training, full flight simulator training, and practical tests. The scholarship will be offered to current members of Whirly-Girls International in their mid-year scholarship round in 2024 and be awarded in the summer.

About Coptersafety

Coptersafety is an independent helicopter pilot training provider for commercial, government and private organizations. The company provides simulator training for H125, H145, AW139, and AW169 helicopter type pilots around the world at its training facility four minutes from Helsinki International Airport. Coptersafety is a FAA, EASA, GACA, CAAT, and UK Training Center / Approved Training Organization (ATO), among others. Coptersafety has taken the initiative to genuinely improve pilot training to ensure the safety performance of the operators. Coptersafety’s Training Center is easily accessible from North America, Asia, and the Middle East with its convenient location only four minutes from Helsinki International Airport in Finland. 

About Whirly-Girls International

Whirly-Girls International is a non-profit, educational and charitable organization dedicated to advancing women in helicopter aviation. It was founded in 1955 and currently has more than 2,100 members across 47 countries. Its goals include the promotion of women in the helicopter industry through scholarship awards, mentoring, public appearances, press releases, magazine articles and informational displays in aviation museums; the exchange of information among women in helicopter aviation; and the promotion of community acceptance of rotorcraft through increasing public awareness of rotorcraft utility and versatility.

Source: Coptersafety
Photo Credit: Coptersafety (shown as meta image)

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Air Canada and CAE Announce Eight 2024 Judy Cameron Scholarship Winners Pursuing Pilot or Aircraft Maintenance Training

  • The two global aviation companies continue to foster the next generation of women in aviation
  • Eight women awarded Judy Cameron scholarships as program celebrates fifth anniversary

On International Women’s Day, Air Canada and CAE are proud to announce the eight winners of the 2024 Captain Judy Cameron Scholarships. The two Montreal-based global aviation companies have again joined forces, to award scholarships to eight women from across Canada who are pursuing careers as commercial pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers. The four CAE recipients training to become commercial pilots will become CAE Women in Flight program ambassadors and play a key role in encouraging more women to pursue careers in aviation.

The Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship, now in its fifth year, was established in honour of Air Canada’s first female pilot. Scholarships are awarded annually by Air Canada and CAE in conjunction with the Northern Lights Aero Foundation, to foster the next generation of women in aviation.

“Air Canada takes great pride in its leadership role in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the aviation industry. Women are well represented across all levels and branches of our airline,” said Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Public Affairs at Air Canada. “The Judy Cameron Scholarship actively works to support and empower the next generation of women pursuing non-traditional aviation STEM careers. Congratulations to this year’s winners.”

“CAE is proud to be a leader in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in aviation. Initiatives like CAE’s Women in Flight Program and the Captain Judy Cameron Scholarships are critical to attracting and supporting more women in making their dream of a career in aviation a reality,” said Marie-Christine Cloutier, CAE’s Vice President, Civil Aviation Performance, Strategy and Marketing. “CAE’s Aviation Talent Forecast anticipates a global need for more than 1.3 million new aviation professionals by 2032, and attracting underrepresented groups, like women, will help keep the industry aloft and allow it to thrive.”

“I’m incredibly excited that the Northern Lights Aero Foundation received a record number of applications for the Captain Judy Cameron scholarships this year. Kudos to Air Canada for initiating and building momentum for the program over the past five years, and to CAE for joining the effort in 2022 to encourage more women in their aviation careers,” said JudyCameron, Boeing 777 Captain at Air Canada (retired) and Director of the Northern Lights Aero Foundation. “Past recipients have become flight instructors, maintenance engineers, and commercial pilots across Canada. This year’s recipients will inspire and support other women in their aviation journeys. Congratulations to the eight recipients and to Air Canada andCAE for generously funding the scholarships.”

Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship Awards

Air Canada award recipients:

  • Harnoor Bagarhy – Brampton, Ontario
  • Harman Bagarhy – Brampton, Ontario
  • Emily Contos – Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • Chanelle Wilson – Coldstream, British Columbia

CAE Women in Flight Ambassadors:

  • Ashley Gellatly – Cargill, Ontario
  • Nyssa Hansen – Delta, British Columbia
  • Chloe Muhl – Grimsby, Ontario
  • Trisha Virdee – Innisfil, Ontario

About Captain Judy Cameron

Judy Cameron became the first female pilot hired by Air Canada, Canada‘s largest airline, in April 1978 at the age of 23. She was the first woman to graduate from Selkirk College’s Aviation Technology Program in 1975. Throughout her flying career of 40 years and over 23,000 hours, she has flown the DC-3, Twin Otter, Hawker Siddeley 748, DC-9, Lockheed 1011, Airbus 320, Boeing 767, and Boeing 777 to the far corners of the world. She became a captain in 1997 and in 2010, she became the first female captain in Canada of a Boeing 777, the largest aircraft in Air Canada‘s fleet. She retired in 2015, received the Elsie MacGill Northern Lights award in the Flight Operations category that year, and in 2016 she was chosen by the 99s (International Organization of Women Pilots) to be on its Canadian postage stamp.

In 2019, Air Canada committed to awarding $20,000 per year for three years toward the Captain Judy Cameronscholarship, and in 2021 re-committed its support for an additional three years. Last year, CAE added its support to the scholarship through its Women in Flight ambassador program.

The Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship is open to women who are Canadian citizens and who are enrolled in a fixed wing aviation flight program at a college, university, or flight school, or an aircraft repair and maintenance program anywhere in Canada.

The Scholarship is administered by the Northern Lights Aero Foundation, which inspires and celebrates Canadian women in aviation and aerospace with mentorship, scholarships, a speaker’s bureau, and junior board, along with an annual award event.

About the CAE Women in Flight Ambassador Program

The CAE Women in Flight Ambassador program is helping to create a movement that encourages young girls and women to dream big and have no limits. Because women make up a very small percentage of commercial pilots worldwide, this program shows women that they, too, can reach for the sky. CAE is partnering with airline customers globally to provide partially funded and fully funded pilot training scholarships to deserving women who also become program ambassadors who inform and inspire other women to become pilots.

The program was launched in 2018 and expanded in July 2022 to grow the movement by forging partnerships with more airline customers. Initially, the program was limited to candidates enrolled in one of CAE‘s airline-sponsored cadet training programs. However, with the program’s evolution, CAE now matches existing airline scholarships. The program aims to build a community of ambassadors who demonstrate leadership skills, active community involvement, perseverance, andpassion for aviation and can inspire women to join the pilot profession.

To learn more about the program, go to CAE Women in Flight Ambassador Program | CAE

About Air Canada

Air Canada is Canada‘s largest airline, the country’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada provides scheduled service directly to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and Internationally on six continents. It holds a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada‘s Aeroplan program is Canada‘s premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world’s largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental partners. Through Air Canada Vacations, it offers more travel choices than any other Canadian tour operator to hundreds of destinations worldwide, with a wide selection of hotels, flights, cruises, day tours, and car rentals. Its freight division, AirCanada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada‘s passenger and freighter aircraft. Air Canada aims to achieve an ambitious net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050. Air Canada shares are publicly traded on the TSX in Canada and the OTCQX in the US.

About CAE

At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying software-based simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, cabin crew, airlines, and defence and security forces to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we’re everywhere customers need us to be with more than 13,000 employees in approximately 250 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents more than 75 years of industry firsts—the highest-fidelity flight and mission simulators as well as training programs powered by digital technologies. We embed sustainability in everything we do. Today and tomorrow, we’ll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter.

Source: CAE and Air Canada
Photo Credit: CAE and Air Canada

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British Airways’ Fully Sponsored Speedbird Pilot Academy Trainees Begin Studies at Global Pilot Training Group Skyborne

Global pilot training group Skyborne which operates flight training bases across the United Kingdom and the United States, has welcomed the first Speedbird Pilot Academy trainees on their fully sponsored path to the flight deck with British Airways.

Skyborne was announced as the official UK partner for the Speedbird Pilot Academy in September 2023. The scheme saw more than 20,000 applicants in its first year and a highly competitive process, including online assessments, video and face-to-face interviews, as well as an assessment day with British Airways.

Lee Woodward, CEO, Skyborne, says: “This is a life-changing initiative. By removing training costs British Airways’ Speedbird Pilot Academy levels the playing field for the best and brightest, driving change in our industry. The standard of applicants has been incredible and to see the first trainees here at Skyborne marks a proud moment for our team. We thank British Airways for their trust and confidence in us as a leading and innovative flight school.”

Lucy Silvester, British Airways pilot recruitment manager, says: “We’re incredibly proud that the Speedbird Pilot Academy is making a flying career a reality for everyone – making a genuine difference to people’s lives. The overwhelming number and standard of applications is helping to ensure we are attracting the very best flying talent for our future generation of pilots. We will continue to invest in our future pilots, as part of our £7 billion investment programme across the airline and will soon announce application details for the second year of Speedbird Pilot Academy too.”

The Speedbird class of 2024 come from diverse backgrounds, range in age from 18 to their mid-40s, and will join Skyborne between March and October this year.

Paul Shrive, father of Speedbird trainee Oliver Shrive, adds: “All Oliver has wanted to do is fly, it’s been his dream since he was seven years old. So as parents, to see that dream become a reality makes us incredibly proud. And for Skyborneand British Airways to be able to offer the opportunity and the accessibility to become a pilot is second to none. We’ll be forever grateful.”

The Speedbird Pilot Academy (SPA) with Skyborne is just one route to a career with British Airways. Skyborne is the only flight school to serve as official UK partner for both SPA and the Speedbird Self-Sponsored Pathway (SSP), offering Integrated ATPL applicants the opportunity to receive a conditional job offer from the airline before starting their flight training.

About Skyborne

Skyborne Airline Academy is a modern airline training academy based at Vero Beach, Florida, United States, and Gloucestershire Airport in the United Kingdom. Established by industry experts, Skyborne brings a fresh approach to airline pilot training.

Founders Tom Misner (chairman) and Lee Woodward (CEO) have unsurpassed experience in commercial aviation, education and training. It is their vision to create a training environment where the highest standard of teaching, safety and relevant airline-style training is maintained, and interactive learning is encouraged.    

Using a combination of tried and tested methods and the latest technology to assess competence, suitability, aptitude and resilience, Skyborne aims to recruit the very best candidates to minimize additional training, reduce failure rates and provide airlines with better pilots and cabin crew.  

Skyborne is proud to hold close relationships with the world’s leading airlines, offering opportunities for trainees as part of British Airways’ Speedbird Pilot Academy, the Propel Flight Academy by Delta, the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Programme, and the SkyWest Professional Pilot Pathway.

Source: Skyborne
Photo Credit: Skyborne

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US Flight School, International Aero Academy, Seeking to Expand Flight Instructor Team in 2024

International Aero Academy, an aviation training group and charter operator based in Lakeland, Florida, United States which experienced a YOY 81% increase in flight training revenue, an 88% increase in flight hours, and an 88% increase in instruction hours is now seeking to hire additional Certified Flight Instructor (CFI, CFII) to become an integral part of their team.

International Aero Academy is located at Lakeland Linder International Airport (KLAL). The academy is an FAA certified International Flight Academy, Repair Station, A&P School and FAA part 135 Air Carrier.

In February 2024 International Aero Academy announced it had officially inaugurated its new office in Mumbai, India. This expansion marks a strategic move by the academy to enhance its services and cater to the growing demand for pilot training in India.

One of the key offerings from the newly established office is the introduction of the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) ground school as well as providing FAA ground school theory training in India, providing aspiring pilots with a comprehensive foundation in aviation theory. Additionally, International Aero Academy is set to facilitate license conversion assistance for Indian students, streamlining the process for those aspiring to pursue an aviation career.

Source: International Aero Academy
Photo Credit: International Aero Academy (shown as meta image)

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