Market Intelligence: Europe

Funded Avia Solutions Group Abinitio Pilot Training Program Now Accepting Applications from European Aspiring Pilots

Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, with a fleet of 212 aircraft, via its subsidiary BAA Training launched its sponsored abinitio program – Pilot Runway – in April 2024. The financed training program with a job guarantee. The 200 new pilots a year program anticipates the Group’s global expansion and growth and will be run in partnership with the Group’s ACMI companies, starting with Avion Express.

The group has shared that applications are now open for its inaugural program starting in August 2024.

Pilot Runway’s students will follow the Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) program, which provides extensive experience in piloting Airbus or Boeing aircraft. Upon graduation, students will receive the globally recognized EASA Pilot License, which is valid in Europe and beyond. They will also be guaranteed a job at one of the biggest ACMI airlines operated by Avia Solutions Group. Prospective students will be offered partial funding covering a substantial part of the tuition fees, whereas specific airlines will offer the necessary loans to cover the remaining study costs. Several years ago, BAA already tested this kind of project in one of the regions it is operating in.

Marijus Ravoitis, CEO at BAA Training, mentions the two-fold benefit of the project: “The Pilot Runway program is going to make a big difference in the world of aviation. First, it will level the playing field for people dreaming of becoming pilots, making it easier to start their education without having to worry about financing. Second, it will provide airlines with a steady stream of new pilots.”

Pilot Runway program students will be studying at BAA Training schools. BAA Training offers comprehensive aviation training solutions for pilots, ranging from Ab Initio training to Type Rating, available across multiple locations, including Spain, Lithuania, France, and Vietnam. Every year, the organization processes around 100,000 flight hours in its own full-flight simulators and flight training devices, and provides Type Rating for more than 1200 pilots, serving over 100 airlines and 300 private customers. The company invests in the latest tools and resources to be the top choice pilot school. Recently it acquired 48 Cessna 172 Skyhawks, adding them to the existing fleet of full-flight simulators and flight training devices for Airbus A320, Boeing 737 MAX, Boeing 737 NG, Boeing 737 CL, and Boeing B747-400 types.

Information on partner airline: Avion Express

  • Growing fleet of 50+ Airbus A320 family aircraft
  • Operates in Europe, Asia-Pacific & the Americas
  • Services over 17 bases during 2024 season
  • Team of over 600 flight crew
  • First ACMI airline to have its own dedicated Airbus A320 simulator

For more information check out the Pilot Runway website.

Source: Pilot Runway
Photo Credit: Pilot Runway

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Global Pilot Training Group CAE is Looking to Hire a Regional Sales Manager for New Business Aviation Training Centre in Austria

CAE is currently seeking a Regional Sales Manager to join its global Business and Helicopter Aviation Training Sales team at the soon-to-open Business Aviation Training Centre in Vienna, Austria. Scheduled to launch in early 2025, this new centre will introduce the first Bombardier Global 7500 full-flight simulator (FFS) in Europe, enhancing pilot training accessibility for regional operators.

The Vienna facility will initially host six state-of-the-art FFSs, including the Global 7500 and a Global 6000 Vision, with plans for additional simulators from leading business jet manufacturers. Spanning 8,000 square meters, the purpose-built centre is designed for future expansion, accommodating up to nine FFSs to deliver advanced pilot training services in Central Europe.

Please see an extract of the job post below.

“Key responsibilities of the role:

  • Understand the market in which CAE conduct its business, remaining close to the user and relevant stakeholders.
  • Ensure that opportunities are identified at the earliest stage to facilitate initial marketing contacts and positioning and to identify competitor’s strengths and weaknesses to determine CAE’s competitive advantage.
  • Generate a budget for approval by the Sales Director to pursue the identified opportunities which require external and/or internal resources.
  • Ensure that prospective partners are identified that reduces project risks and increase bid discriminators.
  • Present a bid strategy to Senior Management, which will highlight the value of the opportunity, the potential partners, the technology requirements, the potential win price and the CAE discriminators.
  • Identify and manage the bid team within the agreed budget to meet timescales and Company profitability targets whilst producing a winning bid.
  • Negotiate, when appropriate, with the customer during the bid appraisal stage prior to preferred bidder announcement.
  • Conclude final pricing, terms and conditions in conjunction with the Senior Management.
  • Transfer accountability for project execution to the Programme/Project Manager on completion of the internal contract review.
  • Play an active role in Company exhibitions, demonstrations and public relations.

Ideal candidate profile:

  • Minimum of 8 to 12 years of relevant experience in a fast-paced environment.
  • Business aviation or airline experience desirable.
  • Thorough sales and marketing experience within a project environment.
  • Experience of managing the bid process.
  • Ability to work to tight deadlines.
  • Fluency in English and German“

If you are interested, check out this LinkedIn job post to apply.

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

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Norway-based Flight School’s A320 Simnest Simulator Receives Qualification from Civil Aviation Authority

Norway-based pilot training organisation Redflight Aviation is thrilled to announce that its Simnest A320 FNPT II MCC simulator has successfully passed the rigorous qualification process of the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority. This achievement not only means that future pilots in Norway will now benefit from Redflight’s top-notch simulator, but it also adds another member to Simnest’s pool of simulators qualified without any findings.

In February 2024 Redflight placed the order for the high-fidelity device and also purchased Simnest’s FSTD Operator Document Package and APS MCC Training Manual.

Redflight Aviation’s Mathias Slåttøy, the former student of Simnest Aviation’s pilot training organization, Simnest Pilot Academy, had a first-hand and in-depth experience with Simnest Aviation’s flagship product, the Simnest A320 FNPT II APS MCC simulator. “Mathias was highly satisfied with the Simnest simulators he trained on as a cadet. We received a lot of positive feedback from him about the device, which led us to contact Simnest Aviation first when making our purchase. The initial discussions were very positive, the site constraints were quickly addressed, and the excellent price/performance ratio confirmed our initial impressions. As a result, we signed the contract with Simnest Aviation without hesitation,” said Oddbjørn Steinar Brungot, the responsible manager at Redflight Aviation, about the background to the decision.

The qualification marks Simnest’s entrance into another country. “We have a special connection to Scandinavia, as we installed our very first Simnest A320 FNPT II MCC simulator in Denmark, which is a part of this region. So, in addition to Redflight Aviation being our first customer in Norway, this tie also adds to the significance of our agreement,” added Miklós Kacsó, CEO of Simnest Aviation.

About Redflight Aviation

Redflight Aviation was started in 2017 under a different name with intention of being an aircraft rental company. As demand grew it soon shifted its idea into becoming a “one stop shop” for flight training services, being able to care for all kinds of pilot training. Today the company keeps moving forward under the same idea, to provide any kind of training from basic flying and taildraggers all the way up to APS MCC, and hope to be delivering these service from spring 2024. The company has 5 aircraft stretching from the all-electric Pipistel Velis, up to the Piper M350 and Piper Seneca. And now also the Simnest A320 FNTP II MCC Simulator.

About Simnest Aviation

Simnest Aviation is a major player in the market for fixed base FSTD manufacturers. They have 20 A320- based simulators operating across 8 European countries, and their FMGS software is also used in North America and Asia. Their flagship product, the Simnest A320 FNPT II APS MCC simulator is designed to be type representative of the real Airbus A320, which provides a real airliner environment for the cadets. All this, hand in hand with the APS MCC training facility, means a straight path for students from aviation training organizations to commercial airlines. The in-house developed operating software of Simnest makes the work of head of trainings and instructors much easier, as it makes the simulator as easy to operate as a smartphone, without the need for technical staff.

Source: Simnest Aviation
Photo Credit: Simnest Aviation

 

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Belgian Flight School Places 2024 Upgrade Order for A320 Simnest Aviation Simulator

Skywings Flight Training, a flight school based in Antwerp, Belgium, has irdered an upgrade from Simnest Aviation for its Simnest A320 FNPT II APS MCC simulator. The academy, known for producing the highest number of airline pilots in the country, is now in its fifth year of using the Simnest simulator as a core component of their training infrastructure.

Recently, Skywings signed a contract with Brussels Airlines, a member of the Lufthansa Group, making them the dedicated training provider for the airline’s ab-initio MPL pilot cadet program starting this autumn. To further elevate the fidelity of their simulator, Skywings has ordered an upgrade from Simnest Aviation, integrating several A320 OEM parts. These upgrades include a functional thrust panel, trim wheels, gravity gear extension, engine switch panel, speed brake panel, and flaps panel, complementing the existing OEM sidesticks and seats.

This enhancement will be completed over the summer of 2024, ensuring that the first cadets of the Brussels Airlines’ program will benefit from the upgraded, high-fidelity training equipment.

Skywings Flight Training has been using the Simnest A320 FNPT II APS MCC simulator for 5 years.

Source: Simnest
Photo Credit: Simnest

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Flight Simulator Manufacturer WBFT Announces Multiple Customer Milestones in June 2024

Netherlands headquartered flight simulator manufacturer Wright Brothers Flight Technology (WBFT) team highlighted an active June 2024 with clients:

  • WBFT team oversaw the successful completion of the Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) with Czech flight training group F AIR. The Boeing 737-800 FNPT II + MCC simulator is now ready for training. In addition to the B737NG and A320 FNPTII simulators, WBFT is also preparing to deliver two P2006 FNPTII simulators to F AIR Ltd. in the future.
  • WBFT announced its collaboration with Hong Kong City University, supporting Airbus A320 pilot student training and maintenance engineer training.

Source: WBFT
Photo Credit: WBFT

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Aircraft Manufacturer Owned Flight Training Organisation Provides 2024 Fleet Overview

France based Airbus owned flight training organization Airbus Flight Academy Europe has provide an overview of its training fleet of 15 aircraft. Below is an overview of the aircraft utilized in the academy’s training programs:

  • Elixir Aircraft Elixir: Recently added to the fleet, this aircraft is 50% more fuel-efficient than most currently certified machines. With its innovative OneShot technology, the Elixir is lighter and capable of carrying more weight. The Rotax engine ensures reduced noise levels. This aircraft is primarily used for the core phase and VFR phase of cadet training.
  • Cirrus SR20: This light, four-seater aircraft is employed by flight instructors for instrument flight training on single-engine aircraft, providing nearly 50 hours of training as part of the ab-initio program.
  • Diamond Aircraft DA42: A twin-engine, four-seat aircraft, each engine producing 170 horsepower. The cockpit of the DA42 closely resembles that of an airliner, making it ideal for Commercial Pilot License (CPL) and instrument flight training phases on twin-engine aircraft.
  • H3 Grob Aircraft SE Grob G 120: These aerobatic-certified two-seaters are utilized for Upset Prevention Recovery Training (UPRT) during the VFR phase. This training allows cadets to experience and manage specific and unusual flying situations.

Additionally, the academy features two ALSIM AL42 FNPTII simulators, which are integral to the cadet training process.

In February 2024 Jean Longobardi officially stepped down as the President of Airbus Flight Academy Europe and shared the significant milestones under his leadership?

  • establishment of a flight school in 2019 under the high patronage of World Wide ATO of Airbus Commercial
  • expanded the academy’s presence to 5 air bases and naval air bases, with the school for airline and military pilots now located in Angoulême-Champniers.
  • Academy’s fleet grew with the addition of 15 new aircraft, set to increase to 18 soon, including the latest environmentally friendly Elixir. This modern configuration aims to reduce the environmental footprint of pilot training courses while maintaining high educational standards.

Source: Airbus Flight Academy Europe
Photo Credit: Airbus Flight Academy Europe

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