Market Intelligence: Asia Pacific

6 RMIT Aviation Academy Pilots Awarded Leidos Aviation Scholarship in 2025

Aspiring Pilots from RMIT University Awarded Exclusive Aviation Scholarship

Australia – Six final-year RMIT students have been awarded a unique aviation scholarship, bolstering the domestic pipeline of aviation professionals. The Leidos Aviation Scholarship collectively offers recipients more than $150,000 in study support and provides them with specialised flight training, mentorships and a guaranteed career pathway upon graduation. The scholarship builds on the training offered by the RMIT Aviation Academy through real-life industry experience and connections, ensuring graduates are prepared for in-demand jobs in Victoria and across the region.

This year’s recipients include four who relocated from interstate specifically to study aviation at RMIT’s training facility at the RAAF Base Point Cook and two based in regional Victoria who are studying locally at RMIT in Bendigo. 

RMIT Aviation Academy Director Lea Vesic: “RMIT’s exclusive partnership with Leidos provides students with not just financial support, but access to specialised training that aligns with the unique operational needs of special mission aviation. Programs like the Leidos Aviation Scholarship are critical in ensuring we have a strong talent pipeline for the future, not just in the commercial passenger transport sector, but also in critical aviation services such as Search and Rescue operations.”

Leidos Airborne Solutions Vice President James Woodhams: “The aviation industry continues to face critical workforce shortages, and we are proud to be playing an active role in addressing these challenges. We recognise that the cost of flight training can be a major barrier to entry for aspiring pilots. By providing financial support and exposure to specialist aviation careers, we are helping to shape a pipeline of highly skilled pilots who can support vital national operations.” 

RMIT Aviation Academy Bendigo student Harreson Watts: “Aviation has always been a very important part of my life, both my dad and grandpa worked in the industry as engineers. I wanted to be a pilot since I was a kid. I love studying aviation at RMIT – there’s also the benefit of studying close to where I live. I’m thrilled to receive the Leidos scholarship; the special mission training will be particularly useful.”

RMIT Aviation Academy Point Cook student Anna Fakira: “I loved visiting the local airfield and using a 747 simulator when I was kid, but becoming a pilot seemed out of reach. I moved from Perth to Melbourne to study at RMIT, where this career was more attainable. Getting the Leidos scholarship is a huge weight off my shoulders. I’m really excited about the multi-engine training, mentorship opportunities and the employment guarantee when I graduate.”

Source: RMIT University
Photo Credit: RMIT University

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Safety and Human Factors Researcher Publishes Research Highlighting Training Background Influence on Safety Perception

Global – Captain Wesley Chan has published research conducted by Wen-Chin Li, Graham Braithwaite and himself comparing how pilots with different training backgrounds perceive and categorise accident causes under the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS). The study has practical implications for airlines looking to integrate pilots from various pathways into a unified safety culture.

  • The study examined pilots from three training backgrounds: airline-sponsored cadet pilots, self-funded trainees, and ex-military aviators.

  • 121 pilots were asked to classify identical accident causal factors using the HFACS framework.

  • The research highlights the importance of culturally adaptive safety management systems (SMS) and may encourage refinements in how airlines assess and train mixed-background crews.

“We found differences between airline-sponsored, self-funded, and ex-military airline pilots on safety perceptions. Closer alignment between personal and organisational safety cultures (typical of ab-initio cadets) were associated with more precise attribution of unsafe preconditions, and less direct attributions to organisational or supervisory conditions.” stated Captain Wesley Chan.

You can check out the finding of the research here and connect with Captain Chan through his LinkedIn.

Source: Wesley Chan

Pilot Training Industry Supplier Feature – PlaneEnglish

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series we speak with Muharrem Mane – CEO & Co-Founder of PlaneEnglish. PlaneEnglish developed ARSim Aviation Radio Simulator that enables pilots to learn, practice, and master aviation phraseology and voice communication in an interactive audio and visual simulation environment.

The conversation covers:

  • Introduction to PlaneEnglish and ARSim: PlaneEnglish, co-founded by Muharrem Mane in 2018, developed ARSim, an aviation radio simulator designed to help pilots master radio communication. The tool provides interactive audio and visual simulation environments to enhance aviation phraseology and voice communication skills. Since its launch, ARSim has gained over 700,000 users in 150+ countries.
  • Partnerships and Industry Collaborations: PlaneEnglish collaborates with both civilian and military aviation institutions. Notable partners include Lift Academy, Turkish Airlines Flight Academy, and several universities. The company also works with the U.S. Air Force, supporting undergraduate pilot training and providing English language training for international pilots through the Defense Language Institute.
  • Advancements in ARSim with AI and UI Enhancements: PlaneEnglish has continuously improved ARSim by integrating AI-powered Q&A features and intuitive UI enhancements. These features help pilots better understand aviation phraseology, interact with realistic flight displays, and receive AI-assisted feedback on their communication skills. The tool now supports VFR and IFR communications across multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, and web.
  • Impact on Pilot Training and Industry Challenges: The aviation industry faces a high demand for pilots, with bottlenecks in instructor availability and aircraft shortages affecting training timelines. PlaneEnglish helps address these challenges by allowing students to practice radio communication before flight training, making them more confident and efficient in the cockpit. This reduces training time and enhances the learning experience.
  • Commitment to Safety and Efficiency: By enabling pilots to develop strong radio communication skills before flying, ARSim helps reduce cognitive load in real-flight scenarios, improving safety and efficiency. Instructors report that students using the simulator are more confident and require less time to grasp in-air communication, allowing them to focus on actual flight maneuvers and decision-making.

For more information:

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

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Avia Solutions Group Chairman Shares Point of View on Supply Chain Delays Affecting Airlines in 2025 and Beyond

Global – Avia Solutions Group, the global aviation services group headquartered in Lithuania, has highlighted the ongoing impact of aircraft delivery delays on airline operations and profitability, in a new article by the Group’s Chairman.

  • Aircraft manufactured delivered significantly less aircraft than forecast in 2024 with Boeing only delivering 348 jets and Airbus only 776.
  • International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects over 4 billion passengers in 2025 – indicating that an expansion of seat capacity by airlines is required.
  • “However, I have long believed both market forces and strategic shifts will mean a return to business as usual by the end of the decade. And, having visited Boeing recently to officially sign our order for 80 737 MAX, I’m even more confident in that prediction.“
  • The delays are linked to pandemic-era workforce reductions, raw material shortages, and ongoing issues at engine manufacturers like Pratt & Whitney, which are grounding aircraft — Wizz Air expects around 40 aircraft to be grounded on average in 2025.
  • Airlines are losing significant revenue due to these delays. A hypothetical airline waiting on 10 aircraft capable of $1 million monthly revenue could lose $60 million over six months.
  • The high demand for narrowbodies — especially during peak seasons — and lack of available new deliveries has increased reliance on older aircraft and created a stronger market for wet lease capacity.
  • Avia Solutions Group sees this as an opportunity for ACMI providers to step in and support airlines unable to secure aircraft through direct orders or finance leases.

Source: Gediminas Ziemelis (Avia Solutions Group)

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CAE to Showcase Advanced Training Solutions at Avalon Airshow 2025

Australia – CAE, a global leader in training and simulation solutions, has announced its participation in the Avalon Australian International Airshow 2025, one of the largest aerospace and defense events in the Southern Hemisphere taking place from March 25 to 27, 2025. CAE will be showcasing its latest advancements in defense training, simulation, and mission support technologies.

Source: CAE
Photo Credit: CAE

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Virgin Australia Launches Future Aviators Program to Boost Female Representation in Aviation

Brisbane, Australia – Virgin Australia has launched its inaugural Future Aviators program, giving nearly 60 young girls from South East Queensland an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at aviation careers. The initiative aims to inspire female students to consider careers in aviation, particularly in technical roles such as engineering and piloting, where women remain underrepresented.

  • Year 7 and Year 8 students from Aerospace Gateway Schools participated in guided tours of Virgin Australia’s aircraft maintenance hangar, head office, and training centres, including flight simulators.
  • The program is part of Virgin Australia’s broader commitment to increasing gender diversity in aviation.
  • The initiative aligns with International Women’s Day’s 2024 theme, Accelerate Action, by raising awareness and providing early exposure to career opportunities in aviation.
  • Students engaged in a panel discussion featuring women working across Virgin Australia’s operations, allowing them to learn firsthand about career pathways in the industry.

Statements:

“Aviation certainly faces challenges in gender diversity, however we don’t shy away from them – we’re leaning in with a determined focus, not only to inspire students to consider a career in aviation, but to actively support them on that path,” said Virgin Australia Chief People Officer Lisa Burquest.

“This is a small but important step in increasing the visibility of some lesser-known roles in aviation for students who may not know where their skills could take them, or what roles are even available to them across the industry,” she added.

“The Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Program, led by Aviation Australia, connects industry and schools to provide hands-on learning and career pathways in aerospace. We’re excited to partner with Virgin Australia to deliver the Future Aviators program,” said Aerospace Gateway Schools Project Manager Natalie Allen.

Source: Virgin Australia
Photo Credit: Virgin Australia

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Aviation Distance Learning Provider CPaT Announces New Contract with Corsaire Aviation

Australia– CPaT Global, the world’s leading provider of distance learning for the airline and aviation industry, today announced they have been awarded a new contract with CorsaireAviation. CPaT will be providing Corsaire with access to their Learning Management System (LMS)along with their robust library of General Subject courses.

CPaT is proud to support Corsaire Aviation with our Learning Management System and robust library of General Subject courses,” said Greg Darrow, Vice President of Sales. “Our platform is designed to support a wide variety of aircraft operations, providing operators like Corsaire with the flexibility and tools they need to deliver effective training for their pilots and crew.”

Corsaire commented: “The Corsaire team is very pleased to be able to integrate the CPaT LMS into our cyclic aviation knowledge training program. Having used the training platform for individual on-demand needs, we are excited to now be able to tailor our courses in a much more structured way, to individualize the material with our company logos, pictures, and text and to efficiently manage each crew member’s training needs and exposure. We also look forward to developing our own aircraft type rating computer-based knowledge course and corresponding exams using the CPaT Invent system. CPaT’s team is always available, helpful, and the support response times are excellent.”

Corsaire Aviation is based out of Australia.

About CPaT
CPaT Global, LLC (CPaT) is the market leader in distance learning for the aviation industry. CPaT delivers software-as-a-service applications to more than 400 global aviation customers, serving 100,000+ individual training users each year. CPaT pioneered the use of distance learning in aviation training more than 30 years ago and has built on that legacy to offer new and imaginative training solutions that are practical, forward-looking, and invaluable.

About Corsaire
Corsaire Aviation was founded in 2015 by Luke Wyllie. His Passion for aviation was passed down through his stepfather who was a keen aviator and collector of warbirds. Luke commenced his aviation career as a freelance jet pilot, and now holds a commercial license in both fixed-wing and helicopter operations. Born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, Luke had a vision of creating tourism opportunities for WA, as well as offering a safe, reliable service for the resource industry, with Western Australia is so heavily dependent on. Corsaire Aviation are proud to be the supplier of helicopters and aeroplanes to WA’s Oil and Gas, Mining, and tourism sectors from the Kimberly to the Great South, and everywhere in between. Corsaire Aviation offers small aircraft and helicopter charters from Perth to many destinations throughout WA and mainland Australia. Our pilots are experienced in mining, survey, aerial photography, filming, tourism, corporate charter, and ultimate private experiences with a variety range of packages. Some of the aircraft charter packages from Perth include Margaret River Winery tours, Helicopter golf and lunching, Heli Fishing, free diving, and eco tours to North-West destinations such as the Abrolhos Islands, Dirk Hartog Island, Coral Coast, and the amazing Kimberly region. Our fleet of private aircraft and executive helicopters are your ultimate experience in waiting.

Source: CPaT Global
Photo Credit: CPaT Global

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