Market Intelligence: -Airline Hiring

UK-Headquartered Pilot Training Group Leading Edge Aviation Partners with TUI to Offer Student Pilots Clear Pathway to Employment

Oxford, United Kingdom – Leading Edge Aviation, which operates flight training bases in the United Kingdom and Spain, is thrilled to announce an innovative partnership with TUI Airline to launch a groundbreaking tagging scheme designed to provide student pilots with a clear, structured pathway to employment through conditional job offers.

Leading Edge Aviation, a trailblazer in flight training, is the first UK-based academy to collaborate with TUI on this pioneering tagging scheme, offering students an exciting new route into the aviation industry.

Through this scheme, TUI will identify talented student pilots at Leading Edge by assessing their performance through interviews, evaluations, and theoretical examinations. The airline’s UK pilot recruitment team will conduct testing and interviews to select students who demonstrate exceptional potential. Once “tagged,” these students will receive a conditional employment offer from TUI, contingent upon meeting specific milestones throughout their training

Kathryn Cleaver, TUI Pilot Manager, commented: “This initiative allows us to identify and nurture top talent early in their training, giving students the confidence and clarity they need to transition into professional flying careers. Leading Edge students are known for their exceptional dedication and potential, and we are excited to offer them the opportunity to launch their careers with TUI. We are committed to the development of graduate pilots, and we look forward to welcoming our first candidates in the summer of 2026.”

Andy McFarlane, CEO of Leading Edge Aviation, said: “At Leading Edge, we are passionate about providing our students with the best possible foundation for a long and successful career in aviation. Our partnership with TUI aligns with our ‘Whole Pilot’ training philosophy and reflects our mutual commitment to supporting the next generation of pilots through structured career pathways. This collaboration is a fantastic opportunity for our students to begin their careers with a globally respected airline.”

This partnership underscores the shared goal of TUI and Leading Edge to cultivate new talent in the aviation sector and address the industry’s growing need for skilled pilots. The tagging scheme offers aspiring pilots the assurance that their dedication and hard work will lead to clear career opportunities with one of the world’s most respected airlines.

About Leading Edge Aviation
Leading Edge Aviation is a rapidly expanding pilot training academy with a fresh approach and an emphasis on holistic training. Offering the highest standards of regulatory technical training, students also benefit from a comprehensive professional and personal development curriculum to enhance non-technical skills.

Based at London Oxford Airport and Alhama, Southern Spain with a commitment to holistic pilot development, Leading Edge Aviation offers a range of modular and integrated training programmes, including the innovative LEAP (Leading Edge Airline Preparation) course; a full-time integrated course with BSc degree (UK only) and a comprehensive graduate airline selection preparation workshop. Facilities at both locations support a comprehensive educational experience, combining modern aircraft and simulators, advanced learning technologies, and a vibrant student living environment.

Leading Edge also delivers modular training (including Ground School, MECPL, CBIR, MEIR, uMAP (university Modular Airline Preparation), A-UPRT (Advanced Upset Prevention Recovery Training), APC MCC (Airline Pilot Standards Multi Crew Co-operation) at its UK base in Oxford.  

Source: Leading Edge Aviation
Photo Credit: Leading Edge Aviation

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OSM Aviation Academy Signs New Partnership Agreement with Norwegian in December 2024

Global pilot training group OSM Aviation Academy and Norwegian have signed a partnership agreement, creating opportunities for students at the flight school to pursue a career with the airline after completing their pilot training.

“We are very pleased with this partnership with Norwegian, as it provides our students with a unique opportunity to start their careers as pilots in a well-established and recognized airline after completing their training. The fact that Norwegian has once again chosen to collaborate with us is proof that we are educating competent pilots who are attractive in the job market,” says Martin Floor, Managing Director of OSM Aviation Academy.

Many of the large international airlines are short on pilots. In the USA, several airlines have had to reduce their routes and cancel flights. Analyses show that the need for pilots will continue to increase going forward, and Norwegian estimates that they will need many new pilots in the coming years to meet planned growth in demand and an upcoming generational shift in the industry.

This is a great way for us to attract pilots. With this new agreement, we get the opportunity to get to know the cadets during their education. This also allows those who are hired by Norwegian to start working immediately while receiving Type-rating course for the aircraft the company operates, as well as other necessary theory and advanced training courses,” says Guro Poulsen, PEOPLE Director at Norwegian.

The partnership involves Norwegian actively participating in the training and selection of future candidates.

About OSM Aviation Academy
OSM Aviation Academy has trained pilots since 1963 and is shaping the future of aviation by offering first-class education for the next generation of pilots and services for airlines. OSM Aviation Academy aims to train enough qualified and competent pilots in the coming years. During pilot training, the focus is on reducing climate emissions and ensuring diversity in the industry. The flight school offers education in Norway, Sweden, and the USA.

Source: OSM Aviation Academy
Photo Credit: OSM Aviation Academy

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UK-Headquartered Pilot Training Group Leading Edge Aviation Hosts Airline’s Pilot Recruitment Team in December 2024

Oxford, United Kingdom – Leading Edge Aviation, which operates flight training bases in the United Kingdom and Spain, welcomed the TUI Airways Pilot Recruitment team this week, providing its students with a valuable opportunity to learn more about career prospects with the world-renowned travel company.

  • TUI Airways, part of TUI Group, operates in 180 regions worldwide with a workforce of 60,000 employees.
  • Leading Edge Aviation students gained insights into TUI’s operations and recruitment processes

Leading Edge Aviation has reached a significant milestone in 2024 with over 100 students have received conditional job offers from major UK airlines during their training. This achievement means that more than a quarter of their current students have been ‘tagged’ for future First Officer roles.

Source: Leading Edge Aviation
Photo Credit: Leading Edge Aviation

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Norwegian Announces Partnership with 4 Flight Schools in December 2024

Norwegian has partnered with four key schools to train pilots to ensure future expertise and manpower in a critical industry. The agreement is a win-win for both Norwegian and the students who are offered jobs after graduation.

“It’s a good way for us to attract pilots, and the cooperation agreements allow us to get to know the students during their education. The students who are given the opportunity to be employed with us can start working directly after completing the course. At the same time, they will receive courses in type rating for the aircraft type we operate in Norwegian, as well as other necessary theory and further education courses,” says Guro Poulsen, Executive Vice President of People at Norwegian.

The cooperation agreements are important to conclude now, as it is expected that the global aviation industry will have an increasing need for pilots in the coming years. This is partly due to the fact that many current pilots are approaching retirement age, an increased demand for air travel, and that the costs of pilot training, which you still have to pay yourself, are increasing and become a financial barrier for many who want a career as a pilot.

Norwegian has entered into agreements with the flight schools:

  • Center Air Pilot Academy (CAPA) in Denmark
  • Lund University Trafikflyghögskolan (TFHS) in Sweden
  • OSM Aviation Academy in Norway
  • FTEJerez in Spain

All four are highly recognized pilot schools with a strong connection to the industry, modern aircraft fleets and experienced instructors that make the schools attractive to future pilots.

Anna Kjær Thorsøe, representative from the Center Air Pilot Academy (CAPA), says:

“We are very pleased with the collaboration with Norwegian. Center Air Pilot Academy has delivered pilots to Norwegian for many years, so we already know each other well. This strengthens our educational program and ensures that our students have a motivating and targeted educational journey. When an airline like Norwegian engages in pilot training, it both raises the standard in the industry and gives students a clear career path. For us as a pilot school, it is fantastic to be part of this process, where together we contribute to ensuring the expertise of the future in aviation.”

Pilot schools ensure qualified labour for aviation

The pilot training takes about 20 months. The students that Norwegian gets to know along the way, and who are deemed to be a good fit for the company, will be offered a job immediately after graduation.

“Aviation is critical infrastructure and is of great importance to society. It is important to ensure that the aviation industry has a stable supply of skilled employees in order to maintain excellence in the future. The aviation industry employs tens of thousands of people in the Nordic region – Norwegian alone employs almost 1,300 pilots, of which more than 200 of them are based in Denmark,” says Guro Poulsen.

Norwegian has around 800 employees in Denmark, making it both a large Danish workplace and the second largest airline in the country. The Norwegian Group, which consists of Norwegian and Widerøes Flyveselskap, has a total of 8,500 employees.

Source: Norwegian

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Global Flight Training Group Skyborne Welcomes New IndiGo Cadets in Florida in December 2024

Vero Beach, Florida, USA – Global pilot training group Skyborne which operates flight training bases across the United Kingdom and the United States, an official partner of the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program, has welcomed its latest batch of 5 cadets in December 2024. The cadets are set to begin ground school training before progressing to the flying phase of their Private Pilot License (PPL) training.

The 18-month IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program with Skyborne begins at Skyborne’s United States facility in Vero Beach, Florida, with cadets spending 12 months earning their US FAA 141 Commercial Pilots License with Instrument Rating, plus the required multi-engine time, before completing a DCGA Flight Licence Conversion in India. The application process has recently been revamped to include the latest suite of ADAPT pilot aptitude tests from Symbiotics.

Source: Skyborne Aviation Academy
Photo Credit: Skyborne Aviation Academy

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Air India Training Academy Hosts Ground School Completion Ceremony for Third Batch of Cadet Program Pilots

India’s flag carrier’s Air India Training Academy, the 600,000 square foot campus in Gurugram which will become one of the largest aviation training institutions in South East Asia, has held the Ground School Completion Ceremony for its third batch of Air India Cadet Program Pilots.

“We are delighted to announce the Ground School Completion Ceremony for Batch 03 of the Air India Cadet Pilot Program, hosted by ThePilot.in, on 12th December at the Air India Training Academy.

The ceremony was graced by a special guest, Capt. Quay (Former SVP, Flight Operations at Singapore Airlines) along with our esteemed leaders — Mr. Sunil Bhaskaran, Capt. Manish Uppal, Capt. Vikram Dayal, Capt. Harish Lamba, Capt. Vikram Raymund, Capt. Sameer Bagai, Capt. Pranav Sood, Ms. Nidhi Datta, and Ms. Neharika Vohra, who congratulated the cadets on this significant achievement.

Following four months of intensive training, the cadets are poised to begin their next phase of advanced flight training at the AeroGuard Flight Training Center and L3Harris Flight Academy in the United States. We extend our best wishes to our cadets as they prepare to reach new heights and advance in their aviation careers!” shared Air India Training Academy.

Source: Air India Training Academy
Photo Credit: Air India (shown as meta image)

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US’s Epic Flight Academy and Regional Airline to Host Virtual Pilot Cadet Program Seminar in December 2024

New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA – headquartered flight and aircraft maintenance training group Epic Flight Academy has announced a virtual seminar in collaboration with Republic Airways to provide insights into the Republic Airways Pilot Cadet Program. The event, set for December 17, 2024, will be hosted by Epic Flight instructor and Republic Airways Ambassador, Adrian Vinueza, and is open to all current Epic Flight Academy students across locations.

Republic Airways operates one of the largest E-Jet fleets globally and partners with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.

About Epic Flight Academy
Epic Flight Academy is headquartered in New Smyrna Beach, Florida with locations across the U.S. The company was founded in 1999 and provides FAA-approved flight training and aircraft mechanic training.

About Republic Airways
Republic Airways, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a regional airline operating over 900 daily flights across the U.S. The airline exclusively uses a fleet of Embraer 170/175 jets and partners with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.

Source: Epic Flight Academy
Photo Credit: Epic Flight Academy

 

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Ansett Aviation Training Celebrates the First Class of Air New Zealand Cadets Within the Mangōpare Pilot Cadetship

Global pilot training group Ansett Aviation Training celebrates the first class of cadets from the Mangōpare Air New Zealand Pilot Cadetship starting their flight training. Air New Zealand selected Ansett Aviation Training as a cadetship pilot training partner earlier this year, supporting the airline in assessing, selecting and training aspiring pilots to be ready for the cockpit of the airline’s ATR 72-600 fleet.

Ansett Aviation Training, together with AeroGuard Flight Training Center, is providing Air New Zealand with an end-to-end solution for the Mangōpare Air New Zealand Pilot Cadetship program supporting the aspiring pilot recruitment phase, overseeing the ab-initio flight training phase and conducting advanced simulator type rating training to ensure that the cadets receive an industry leading safe, high quality and short duration training program that prepares them for airline operations.

Ansett Aviation Training’s CEO, Mark Delany highlighted his passion and pride for the opportunity to support the education and career development of aspiring pilots from across New Zealand “I am immensely proud to celebrate the first class of cadets from the Mangōpare Air New Zealand Pilot Cadetship. This program is a testament to Air New Zealand’s visionary approach to pilot training and their commitment to fostering the next generation of aviation professionals. At Ansett Aviation Training, we are dedicated to providing an industry-leading, high-quality training experience that prepares these aspiring pilots for the challenges and opportunities of airline operations. We are honored to partner with Air New Zealand in this groundbreaking initiative and look forward to supporting the career development of these talented people”.

As a global pilot training group operating training centers across Oceania, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Ansett Aviation Training is dedicating significant resources to support Air New Zealand in operating the Mangōpare Air New Zealand Pilot Cadetship in New Zealand and across the industry.

Source: Ansett Aviation Training
Photo Credit: Ansett Aviation Training

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