Archives: Market Intelligences

US Flight School Epic Flight Academy Welcomed Over 130 New Students in the Second Half of 2023

Florida, United States headquartered flight and aircraft maintenance training group Epic Flight Academy shared it welcomed fourteen (14) student pilots in early December 2023 – this follows strong intakes throughout the year including:

Epic has been growing its training infrastructure with the recent delivery of 6 new Cessna Skyhawks as part of an order placed in April 2023 for 15 aircraft.

Epic Flight Academy is located in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Established in 1999 by CEO Danny Perna, Epic offers Part 141 pilot training and Part 147 aircraft mechanic training. Their main campus is located in New Smyrna Beach, Florida with satellite locations in Ocala and Tallahassee.

Source: Epic Flight Academy
Photo Credit: Epic Flight Academy

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French Flight School Mermoz Academy Inaugurates New Building at the End of 2023

Mermoz Academy, France’s first airline pilot and cabin crew training school, has reached an important milestone. Since May 2023, the school has been operating at its new base in Nîmes, and on December 14th, the flight school inaugurated its new building at Nîmes – Grande Provence – Méditerranée airport, in Garons in the presence of Franck Proust, President of Nîmes Métropole, and David Crochet, Managing Director of Mermoz Academy.

The building is strategically located at the entrance to the airport area. This state-of-the-art building represents not only the academy’s commitment to educational excellence, but also its dedication to preparing the next generation of airline and private jet pilots.

Source: Mermoz Academy
Photo Credit: Mermoz Academy

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Boeing Concludes Inaugural Pilot Roundtable for India and South Asia

Boeing successfully hosted the inaugural Pilot Roundtable in India, a two-day event that drew active participation from the pilot community across India and the South Asian region, featuring delegates from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Representing a unique gathering of diverse airline pilots within the region, the event served as an unparalleled platform fostering discussions between India’s pilot community and Boeing’s expert panel. It facilitated the exchange of industry-leading best practices in commercial aviation, focusing on safety, efficiency, and innovation.

“The Pilot Roundtable underscores Boeing’s commitment to supporting the expansion of the civil aviation sector, meeting the demand for pilots and technicians, and fostering self-reliance in the Indian aerospace and defence ecosystem,” said Ryan Weir, vice president, Commercial Sales and Marketing for India, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

The inaugural in-person India Pilot Roundtable follows two successful virtual editions in 2021 and 2022, signifying a significant shift towards more direct and impactful engagements. The sessions focused on achieving efficient flight operations through the implementation of Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) / Evidence-Based Training (EBT), optimizing fuel burn during flight operations, and exploring the potential of Required Navigation Performance Authorization Required (RNP AR) technology to alleviate airspace congestion. These discussions provide a crucial advantage for India’s rapidly growing aviation sector.

“A safe aerospace system ensures that commercial aviation can make good on its promise of improving people’s lives and supporting economic growth,” said Captain Karsten Liljegren, director of Global Operations Support at Boeing. “We are pleased to support the policymakers and leaders in the Indian and South Asian region as they continue investing in efforts to strengthen aerospace safety and efficiency.”

India’s commercial aviation market is expected to become the third largest in the world by 2041, and is projected to receive over 90% of South Asia’s airplane deliveries, requiring over 2,400 new aircraft, while its cargo market is set to expand significantly, with the fleet growing from 15 to 80 airplanes by 2042, driving a $135 billion demand for commercial services. Boeing’s 2023 Pilot and Technician Outlook forecasts demand in South Asia for 37,000 pilots and 38,000 maintenance technicians over the next 20 to meet industry needs, driven primarily from growing demand in India. Boeing recently announced a $100 million investment in infrastructure and programs to train pilots in India, which will support India’s need for new pilots over the next 20 years.

About Boeing in India

Boeing is focused on delivering value to Indian customers with advanced technologies and is committed to creating sustainable value in the Indian aerospace sector – developing local suppliers, and shaping academic and research collaborations with Indian institutions. Boeing has strengthened its supply chain with more than 300 local companies in India and a joint venture to manufacture fuselages for Apache helicopters and vertical fin structures for the 737 family of airplanes. Annual sourcing from India stands at over $1 billion. Boeing currently employs over 6,000 people in India, and more than 13,000 people work with its supply chain partners. Boeing’s employee efforts and country-wide engagement serve communities and citizenship programs to inspire change and make an impact on more than 500,000 lives.

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

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US Air Force Announces Retention Bonus of up to $600,000

The Air Force recently announced the opening of two Regular Air Force FY24 Aviation Bonus programs – the FY24 Experienced Aviator Retention Incentive, formerly known as the Aviation Bonus, and the FY24 Demonstration Bonus.

Eligible active-duty aviators have until Aug. 1, 2024, to apply for EARI and the FY24 Demonstration Bonus; however, the program eligibility window will close early if the budgetary maximum number of contracts are met before Aug. 1.

Additionally, eligible Guard and Reserve aviators continue to have until Dec. 31, 2023, to apply for the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve’s current 2023 Aviation Bonus programs.

EARI builds upon the previous years’ offers to deliberately shape and retain experienced rated officers to meet Air Force retention, training, and mission readiness requirements to maintain the lethality of the force. Information will be announced separately in the future regarding the Reserve Component offering the FY24 EARI.

“In today’s strategic environment, the requirement to preserve critical skills in our Air Force has never been more important,” said Maj. Gen. Adrian Spain, Director of Training and Readiness, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters, Air Force. “Specifically, aviation-related skillsets, formed through the crucible of combat and daily execution of high-intensity operations, is the foundation necessary to continue to effectively deliver warfighting capability to the Joint Force and the American people. Retaining these professional aviators’ experience and expertise within the Total Force is imperative in order to outpace future challenges that may emerge throughout the spectrum of conflict.”

EARI, combined with the Rated Officer Retention Demonstration Bonus, offers specific rated officers with experience in flying critical weapon systems, both monetary and non-monetary incentives to extend their service commitment.  The monetary options range from $15,000 per year to $50,000 per year for contracts ranging from three to 12 years of additional service.  Non-monetary options continue to include an assignment of choice, assignment declination, or remain in place.

EARI will be available for RegAF, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve rated officers. However, the Rated Officer Retention Demonstration Program will be only available to select RegAF rated officers.

Source: US Air Force
Photo Credit: US Air Force (shown as meta image)

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