Market Intelligence: Europe

Simnest Aviation and Portugal’s Omni Aviation Training Center Announce the Purchase of a Simnest A320 FNPT II MCC

Portugal – At the EATS 2025 conference held in Cascais, Portugal, Simnest Aviation and Omni Aviation Training Center officially announced the purchase of a Simnest A320 FNPT II MCC simulator for the Cascais-based pilot school. The nearly 30-year-old Omni Aviation Training Center (OATC) first tested the Simnest A320 FNPT II MCC exactly one year ago during the 2024 EATS event.

“Our mission is to deliver rigorous, high-quality aviation training and to prepare professionals with the highest technical competencies. As we are upgrading our MCC course to the APS MCC and continue to support White Airways (also part of the OMNI Group) in their demand for A320-qualified pilots, it became evident that this simulator was the right choice. When we stepped out of the Simnest simulator after our test flight last year, it immediately became clear that this was the device that could support our mission. Its high-fidelity environment, outstanding quality, and realistic behavior convinced us right away,” said Dylan van Haasen, Head of Training at OATC.

Following detailed negotiations, the two organizations finalized all terms this fall and officially announced the agreement at EATS — fittingly in OATC’s hometown of Cascais.

“From the very first interaction, there was great chemistry between our companies — we share the same values and vision. That is why we are especially pleased to officially announce our cooperation today, one year after our first discussions. With this agreement, three Simnest simulators will soon support pilot training in Portugal,” stated Balázs Herendi, Chief Commercial Officer of Simnest Group.

The new Simnest A320 FNPT II MCC simulator will be installed and operational at OATC’s Cascais facility in spring 2026.

About Simnest Aviation
Simnest Aviation is a major player in the fixed-base FSTD manufacturing market. The company has 23 type-representative simulators operating across eight European countries, and its proprietary FMGS software is also used in North America and Asia. Its product lineup — including the Simnest A320 FNPT II MCC, its simplified version, the Simnest A320 AATD, and the Simnest B737 FNPT II MCC — is designed to closely replicate the real aircraft, down to the finest details. This high level of realism has helped ATOs around the world expand their training portfolios and secure pilot training contracts with major airlines such as Brussels Airlines, Jettime, Norwegian, Scandinavian Airlines, and Wizz Air.

About Omni Aviation
OMNI Aviation Training Center (OATC) was established in 1998 as a department of OMNI Aviação e Tecnologia, SA. In 2007, OATC became an independent company, a result of the rapid growth of the OMNI Group and the increasing number of students attracted by the center’s growing reputation and experience. Since then, OATC has continued to evolve, expanding its capabilities to meet the training needs of both the OMNI Group and external aviation organizations in Portugal and abroad. In 2025, OATC entered a new phase of development with the launch of its fleet renewal program and the acquisition of next-generation Elixir aircraft. These investments mark a significant step toward modernizing the training infrastructure, enhancing sustainability, and further aligning OATC’s programs with airline-level standards.

Source: Simnest Aviation
Photo Credit: Simnest Aviation

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Elixir Aircraft Delivers First Trainer to Portugal’s OATC, with 6 More to Follow

Portugal – French training aircraft manufacturer Elixir Aircraft has officially delivered its first aircraft to Portuguese flight training organisation Omni Aviation Training Centre (OATC), marking a strategic step in OATC’s fleet renewal plans. The announcement was made during the opening of the 23rd European Aviation Training Symposium (EATS) on 5 November 2025.

  • Elixir Aircraft confirmed the delivery of its first aircraft to OATC, following the school’s September 2025 announcement to modernise its training fleet.

  • The delivery aligns with a broader agreement, with OATC having signed a letter of intent (LOI) for seven additional Elixir aircraft.

  • The aircraft will support OATC’s ab initio pilot training programmes and are expected to contribute to increased operational efficiency and standardisation.

Source: Elixir Aircraft
Photo Credit: Elixir Aircraft

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Greek Flight School Global Aviation SA Meets Partners at EATS 2025

Greece – Global Aviation SA, one of the countries largest flight training organisations, has held meetings with numerous of its partners at the European Aviation Training Summit 2025 including:

About Global Aviation
Founded in 1997, Global Aviation is an EASA-approved flight training organization headquartered in Athens, Greece. With over 28 years of training tradition, Global provides ATPL Integrated training through airline-standard SOPs, a strong safety record, and a culture rooted in care, professionalism, and consistency.

Source: Global Aviation SA
Photo Credit: Global Aviation SA

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Acron Aviation to Provide A320 Type Rating Training for Air Astana at its London Training Center

United Kingdom & Kazakhstan – Acron Aviation today announced that it has been selected by Air Astana, the leading carrier of Kazakhstan, to deliver Airbus A320 Type Rating training from its London Training Center (LTC).

Under the new agreement, Air Astana will utilize the state-of-the-art facilities offered at Acron Aviation’s LTC, including dedicated briefing rooms and high fidelity, Level D Full Flight Simulators (FFS), and benefit from consistent, high-quality training outcomes that support its continued expansion and crew development objectives.

Acron Aviation’s proven track record for delivering world-class pilot training, the quality of its training center, and the digital support available to trainees were key factors in Air Astana’s selection.

Patrick Davis, VP & GM London Training Center, Acron Aviation, said: “We’re proud to support Air Astana’s A320 Type Rating requirements from our London Training Center, drawing on our expertise as an established training provider.” Davis continued, “adding such a respected international flag carrier to our customer base reinforces Acron Aviation’s position as a trusted provider of advanced flight training solutions.”

The training agreement deepens the partnership between the two companies, first established in 2020 when Air Astana purchased its first A320neo FFS from Acron Aviation – which was also the first of its type in Kazakhstan. This will be followed by a second A320neo, which is scheduled to enter service early next year at the airline’s training center in Astana.

Filippos Siakkas, COO, Air Astana added: “Partnering with Acron Aviation ensures access to dependable A320 Type Rating capacity for our pilots. Their experience and infrastructure provide the assurance of quality and throughput we value.”

The agreement represents another step in Acron Aviation’s mission to export UK-built training systems and curricula to a growing global customer base.

Source: Acron Aviation

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Virtual Reality Pilot Training Solution Provider RedboxVR Earns Defence Sector Trust for Aviation Simulation Systems

United Kingdom – RedboxVR, a UK‑based immersive training‑solutions provider, reports that its virtual‑reality (VR) flight‑simulation and training systems are receiving high‑level recognition across United Kingdom defence, transport and cadet sectors.

  • Senior officials from the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) personally engaged with RedboxVR’s VR Motion Flight Simulator, signifying institutional confidence in the technology for training and recruitment.

  • Senior government figures, including the Heidi Alexander (UK Secretary of State for Transport) and Alistair Corns MP (Minister for the Armed Forces) also tested RedboxVR systems, acknowledging their relevance to defence, transport and education sectors.

Source: Jason Carver (RedboxVR)
Photo Credit: Jason Carver (RedboxVR)

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