Archives: Market Intelligences

Irish Pilot Training Organisation AFTA Welcomes First Integrated Class of 2024 – 8 Cadets

Cork, Ireland based pilot training organisation Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) welcomed its inaugural integrated class of 2024 as they commence their transformative 16-18 month commercial training programme. This class is comprised of eight (8) students.

The journey began with two days of comprehensive induction sessions, offering the cadets a deeper insight into AFTA and introducing them to the flight school’s dedicated team. This week marked a significant milestone as they successfully completed a rigorous 10-day Private Pilot Licence (PPL) theory ground-school, delving into nine subjects including Meteorology, Air Law, and Navigation. With this solid foundation in place, they are now poised to take to the skies, joining AFTA’s flight line in Cork to embark on the practical aspect of their flight training.

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

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Full Flight Simulator Manufacturer and Operator Avion Announces Latest Appointments for Maintenance Manager and Lead Maintenance Engineer

Europe headquartered Avion Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Ryan Visser as Maintenance Manager and Pierre du Raan as Maintenance Engineer at the at the Avion Flight Training Centre in Luton, United Kingdom.

Ryan Visser is an accomplished pilot with extensive experience in aviation. Ryan has logged significant hours on renowned aircraft such as the Boeing 727 and 747. His impressive career spans technical roles at well-known companies, including DHL, Cranfield Aviation Training, and Aerotrans Cargo. With his vast experience, Ryan takes on the role of Maintenance Manager at the Avion Flight Training Centre, leading the team towards excellence.

Pierre du Raan is a seasoned flight simulation expert with a remarkable track record. Pierre has honed his skills on various training devices during his tenure at Sim Aero and even founded the esteemed South African company, Duravia Flight Simulation, in 2009. Now, Pierre brings his expertise to Avion as the Lead Maintenance Engineer in Luton, contributing to the continued success and innovation of the flight training programs.

Source: Avion Full Flight Simulators
Photo Credit: Avion Full Flight Simulators

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ACMI Operator Partners with Global Pilot Training Group BAA Training for Full Flight Simulator Training

Avion Express, globally leading ACMI operator and BAA Training, leader in aviation training solutions, and members of the world’s largest ACMI provider, Avia Solutions Group, announces a partnership for full flight simulator (FFS) training, meeting the operator’s pilot training needs. The FFS is scheduled to start operations at the beginning of March, with plans to operate more than 6,000 training hours annually for Avion Express, while the remaining time will be offered on the market.

With the expanded training capacity, Avion Express further strengthens its partnership with BAA Training—one of Europe’s leading independent aviation training centres, trusted by the biggest European airlines for their quality education. BAA Training’s newly acquired A320 CEO/NEO full flight simulator, located in Vilnius, will be primarily fully utilized by Avion Express to meet the growing training demand and maintained by BAA Training.

Darius Kajokas, CEO at Avion Express, highlights the importance of this significant step for the company:

“Over the past few years, we have experienced exponential growth. Currently, we have more than 600 pilots on our team. As an ACMI service provider, we ensure the highest standards for our clients, starting from safety and highly trained flight crew. I believe that the simulator will play an integral role in further strengthening our crew training process. Using the opportunity, I would like to express sincere gratitude to BAA Training, who are collaborating with us on this project,” says Kajokas.

“The new partnership with Avion Express is what we deliver to our clients—tailor-made solutions to meet their specific training demands. Our capacity growth as a pilot training provider is evident. The A320 CEO/NEO full flight simulator is a 2.1 Airbus standard FFS, and the newest addition to our expanding fleet. We are constantly investing in the most up-to-date technologies because we have a long-term perspective—to ensure the highest quality infrastructure for our clients, and we are excited to be partnering with Avion Express on this project,” comments Marijus Ravoitis, CEO at BAA Training.

Having a dedicated FFS will bring several advantages to Avion Express’ pilot training programs. According to Martijn Klein Essink, Head of Training at Avion Express, it ensures availability, reliability, cost efficiency, and the ability to make customized training programs:

“Firstly, it provides our pilots with consistent access to high-quality training sessions, which is essential for maintaining a standardized and effective curriculum. Additionally, we can schedule training sessions at our convenience, minimizing disruptions and eliminating external dependencies, and tailor training programs to meet the specific needs of our pilots. Lastly, despite the initial substantial investment, in the long run, a dedicated simulator proves to be a cost-effective solution when compared to outsourcing training services, making it a wise investment for our organization,” explains Klein Essink and mentions that the company is strongly committed to the development of their training department, now Avion Express has 39 Type Rating Instructors (TRIs) and Type Rating Examiners (TREs) and over a hundred other instructors in the team.

Source: Avia Solutions Group
Photo Credit: Avia Solutions Group

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