Market Intelligence: Asia Pacific

Air New Zealand Appoints 2025 Manager Flight Training – Jet

Auckland, New Zealand – Air New Zealand has appointed Steve Gibson as Manager Flight Training – Jet, a key leadership position overseeing pilot training and assessment across the carrier’s three jet fleets.

  • Gibson will support Training Managers, Instructors, and Examiners across Air New Zealand’s jet operations.

  • The role covers training delivery, pilot standards, and professional development.

Statements
“I’ll be overseeing pilot training and assessment across our three jet fleets, supporting an awesome team of Training Managers, Instructors, and Examiners who lead delivery, standards, and development of our pilots. This role brings together what matters most — safety, standards, and people.” – Steve Gibson, Manager Flight Training – Jet.

Source: Air New Zealand (Steve Gibson)

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Pilot Training Industry Supplier Feature – Next Generation Training Aircraft – Smartflyer

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series we speak with Rolf Stuber – the CEO and Head of Design at Smartflyer – a Swiss aircraft manufacturer that introduces an innovative aircraft for flight training with an easy and fast swap between a hybrid and fully electric versions.

The conversation covers:

  • Innovative Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Design: Smartflyer, founded in 2016, is a Swiss aerospace company developing the SF1 — a hybrid-electric aircraft with a unique configuration. Its electric propulsion unit is mounted on the vertical tail, allowing the nose section to be modular and swappable between a battery pack and a range extender (a combustion engine driving a generator). This design enables flexibility, low emissions, quiet operations, especially during takeoff and landing near airports, and extended range up to 800 km.
  • Progress and Industry Recognition: The SFX1 prototype was successfully rolled out in November 2024 and showcased in April 2025 at Aero Friedrichshafen, gaining strong interest from the aviation community. Smartflyer received positive feedback for its environmentally sustainable concept and is currently seeking industrial partners and investors to support the next phase: certification and production.
  • Strategic Partnerships: Smartflyer has signed a Letter of Intent with FlyOnE, an Australian company operating electric aircraft, for the future purchase of 30 aircraft. This partnership demonstrates early market validation and aligns with Smartflyer’s vision to support regional and training aviation with sustainable solutions.
  • Revolutionizing Pilot Training: The SF1 is tailored for modern pilot training needs, featuring a cockpit and avionics layout that mirrors airline environments. Its modular energy system allows flight schools to adapt operations cost-effectively, offering both battery-electric and hybrid training options. Maintenance is streamlined, and the aircraft design supports efficient learning of both flying skills and airline-standard cockpit procedures.
  • Outlook and Industry Insights: Rolf Stuber emphasizes the growing demand for pilots — projected at 600,000 over 20 years — and the need for modern, cost-effective training aircraft. Looking ahead, Smartflyer aims to certify the SF1 within the next five years. The ultimate goal is to bring Smartflyer aircraft into regular use, helping to modernize the training fleet and make sustainable aviation a practical reality. 

For more information:

You can find all of the AFM.aero Pilot Training Industry Interview Episodes here.

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Virgin Australia Appoints New Chief Operating Officer in 2025

Australia – Virgin Australia has appointed Chris Snook as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), marking a key leadership transition as the airline continues its post-pandemic growth and operational transformation. Snook steps into the role following the tenure of Stuart Aggs, under whose leadership the operations team achieved strong performance benchmarks.

  • The transition comes at a time of renewed growth and operational momentum for the airline.

  • Virgin Australia currently employs over 1,200 pilots across its network.

Virgin Australia currently operates 105 aircraft including 96 B737.

Source: Virgin Australia (Chris Snook)

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New Zealand-based Flight Simulator Manufacturer iSimNZ Launches Mobile BK117/H145 Helicopter Flight Simulator

New Zealand – iSimNZ, a simulator manufacturer specializing in general aviation and eVTOL training solutions, has unveiled a mobile-friendly 3D model of its latest convertible Flight Training Device (FTD) designed for BK117 and H145 helicopter operations. The project reflects the company’s continued innovation in portable and mission-specific flight simulation.

  • The convertible FTD supports interchangeable configurations for BK117 and H145 helicopters, specifically tailored for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.

  • The simulator features an open cockpit design and is built into a mobile trailer unit, making it deployable for on-site training across remote or operational environments.

  • Classified as FAA AATD-equivalent, the device provides certifiable training capabilities in the field, meeting regulatory training standards.

  • A second simulator, a Hawker 800XP FTD equipped with the Pro Line21 avionics suite, is currently under development and expected to be revealed soon.

  • The initiative supports industry discussions around virtual learning, distributed training, and simulation accessibility.

Take a look at the 3D model here.

Source: Hassan Al Ghrabi (iSimNZ)
Photo Credit: Hassan Al Ghrabi (iSimNZ)

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Virgin Australia Chief Pilot Joins UNSW as Advisory Board Member

Australia – Virgin Australia’s General Manager Flight Operations and Chief Pilot, Alex Scamps, has been appointed as an Advisory Board Member at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), strengthening ties between the academic and commercial aviation sectors.

Learn more about UNSW or Scamps by connecting with him through his LinkedIn profile here.

Source: Alex Scamps (UNSW)

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KEYVAN and SIMNEST Forge a Strong Data Partnership for Flight Training

Global – As one of the world’s leading providers of aeronautical navigation data, KEYVAN Aviation has taken a significant step to expand its global presence in the simulator market by signing a new service agreement with SIMNEST, a company specializing in advanced flight simulator technologies.

Under this agreement, KEYVAN’s certified aeronautical and navigation database, compliant with international regulations and approved by global aviation authorities, will now be actively integrated into SIMNEST’s professional-grade simulators. This integration will allow SIMNEST Aviation simulators to deliver up-to-date, and globally valid aeronautical data offering pilot trainees and training centers a more realistic and regulation compliant learning environment.

Powering Both Simulation Systems and Academic Training
Headquartered in Europe, SIMNEST provides advanced flight simulators from AATD to FTD levels to airlines, flight schools and training centers worldwide. Recognized for its EASA-compliant, user-friendly simulation solutions, SIMNEST is among the preferred brands for institutions that prioritize high-quality pilot training.

In addition to manufacturing simulators, SIMNEST also operates the SIMNEST Pilot Academy. The academy offers a range of professional training programs designed to prepare cadets for multi-crew operations and large aircraft environments. SIMNEST’s simulator systems and training programs are now powered by KEYVAN’s up-to-date navigation data, certified by international aviation authorities. This integration enhances SIMNEST simulators with globally accurate aeronautical data providing pilot trainees with a more realistic and immersive training environment.

KEYVAN Expands Its Reach in the Simulator Market
With this collaboration, KEYVAN strengthens its footprint in the simulator ecosystem by providing data solutions not only for civil and military aviation, but also for flight schools and simulator manufacturers. The company continues to gain recognition as a trusted data partner in the simulation sector, expanding its portfolio and reinforcing its reputation for reliability and regulatory compliance.

  • Mehmet KEYVAN , CEO of KEYVAN Aviation, commented:
    “The global simulator market is evolving rapidly, and when supported by accurate and trusted aeronautical data, it offers even greater value. This agreement with SIMNEST enhances our presence in this field and enables more simulator users worldwide to train with KEYVAN-certified data. Furthermore, this partnership will provide long-term value by improving operational precision and contributing to the academic development of flight training standards.”
  • Balázs HERENDI, CEO of SIMNEST, commented:
    “At Simnest Aviation, we are committed to continuously improving the quality and realism of our flight simulation devices. Partnering with Keyvan Aviation, a renowned provider of reliable and high-precision navigational data, marks an important milestone in this commitment. Their expertise and solutions help us strengthen our portfolio and deliver an even better final product to our customers. We believe that this collaboration not only strengthens our current product range but also opens the door to future innovations. With such strong partners, we are confident in our ability to expand our presence and achieve further success in new geographic markets.“

Source: KEYVAN Aviation

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