Market Intelligence: Europe

Polish Flight School Bartolini Air Signs Purchase Agreement for 8 New Tecnam Aircraft

Capua, Italy – Tecnam and Bartolini Air announced the purchase of six (6) additional Tecnam P2008JC and two (2) P2006T NG twin-engine aircraft for Bartolini Air’s fleet expansion programme. The aircraft will be used from PPL – Private Pilot Licence – to advanced commercial pilot training such as CPL(A), IR(A) and MEP(L) as well as for integrated ab-initio commercial pilot training.

Today, the Polish ATO operates twenty-two (22) aircraft and with the new eight (8) acquired, it will be a total of thirty (30) aircraft, of which twenty-six (26) are Tecnam.

Bartolini Air has more than two hundred (200) cadets every year and is one of only six official Ryanair partners within the Ryanair Future Flyer Academy.

“As a long-term partner and operator of Tecnam, we will strengthen our position in the ATO market in Poland, as new acquisitions will allow us to implement the company’s expansion plan for 2025. Future Ryanair pilots, as well as cadets from other airlines, will benefit from the latest aviation technologies offered by such a renowned trainer manufacturer,” Bartolini Air said.

Bartolini Air, which was the launch customer for the P2006T, chose Tecnam as its main aircraft supplier and partner because Tecnam today offers the most modern and efficient fleet solution, from single engine two-seaters for ab-initio to twin engine aircraft for multi-engine piston and complex ratings, covering all the needs of a modern flight school.

The P2006T NG, Next Generation is the latest version of the P2006T, one of the smartest twin engine aircraft on the market today, offering unbeatable value and innovative design with a modern Garmin avionics suite, integrating all primary flight, navigation, communication and terrain data on two high-definition LCDs.

The aircraft is also equipped with two-axis autopilot, for the most efficient MEP complex training.

Fitted with two Rotax 912iSc3 injected engines, the Tecnam P2006T exhibits remarkable fuel savings and can be operated on AVGAS and MOGAS fuel, leading to huge cost savings, offering the best training for Multi Engine, Variable Pitch and Retractable Landing Gear ratings. The advanced avionic system offers VFR/ VFR Night, MEP, IR, PBN (LNAV/VNAV, LPV).

“We are very proud of our long-standing collaboration with Tecnam, which has always supported our development and contributed significantly to the quality of the cadets who leave Bartolini Air to fly under their own wings with the most prestigious airlines. It is worth remembering that many of today’s pilots, who fly with many of us on business trips or holidays, took their first steps at the controls of Tecnam aircraft in our company. These additional purchases will only increase the number of well-trained pilots who will be at the controls of Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s tomorrow,” said Bartlomiej Walas, Bartolini Air, CEO.

Walter Da Costa, CSO Tecnam, said: “The key to success for a flying school is to offer students modern aircraft with low operating and running costs, innovative design and Italian style. Bartolini Air has proven how to innovate flight training and set new standards”

Tradition, innovation and vision. These factors are taking Tecnam to new horizons. Based on recent data and industry benchmarks, Tecnam offers the greenest training fleet in the world. Flight schools using Tecnam’s single and twin engine fleet can save up to 10 tonnes of CO2 emissions for each student who completes a Commercial Pilot Licence – a 60% reduction compared to a fleet using 100LL fuel across 155 flight hours, including 30 hours in a twin.

About Bartolini Air
Bartolini Air is a group of EASA-certified aviation companies offering flight training, private jet charter and management, aircraft sales and maintenance. Bartolini Air is the largest pilot training centre in Central Europe. The company headquarters is located at Łódź International Airport (EPLL) in central Poland, a modern commercial aerodrome in the geographical center of Europe equipped with instrument approaches, new hangars and terminals. The company’s greatest driving force is its passion – a passion not only for aviation, but also for knowledge, professionalism, and business excellence. All members of the Management Board are active pilots of jet planes. Their competence is confirmed by years of work in the industry and thousands of hours spent in the air. 

About TECNAM; “Quality Aircraft since 1948”
Tecnam is an Italian aircraft manufacturer and one of the world’s leading piston aircraft manufacturers. Founded in 1948 by brothers Luigi and Giovanni Pascale, the company is headquartered in Capua, Italy, and operates two subsidiaries in Sebring, Florida, USA, and Brisbane, Australia, to serve and support the needs of local Tecnam owners and operators. Tecnam designs and manufactures a wide range of aircraft for personal use, commercial operations, business travel, flight training, surveillance, law enforcement and other specialised applications.

Source: Tecnam
Photo Credit: Tecnam

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Lufthansa Aviation Training Highlights Significant Investment to Modernize Fleet of 21 Full Flight Simulators

  • Enhanced Training Reality: Cutting-edge image quality with higher resolution, precise lighting and shadow effects, and realistic scene rendering.
  • Technological Advancement: Leveraging the latest technologies for lifelike surfaces, light reflections, and realistic ground crew movements.
  • Sustainable Efficiency: Reduced maintenance needs and increased system reliability.

Germany – Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) is reaching new heights with one of the largest investments over all locations in its history: the modernization of 21 full-flight simulators across Europe. This ambitious program, launched two years ago and now entering the spotlight, underscores LAT’s commitment to delivering innovative and reliable training solutions.

Upgrading Training for the Next Generation

Over the course of a five-year roll-over program, LAT is upgrading four simulators annually with state-of-the-art technology from leading providers such as CAE and Collins Aerospace. The project involves replacing projectors and image generators, as well as optimizing cockpit mirror films and other system components.

Modernization Across Europe

The journey began with simulators in Zurich and Berlin. Over the coming years, additional upgrades will follow at key locations, including Vienna, Frankfurt, Munich, and Essen. These enhancements not only improve training quality but also ensure the long-term availability of LAT’s simulators. Each simulator upgrade is completed in just 1-2 weeks, minimizing downtime.

Jens Jährling (Senior Director Training Devices & Infrastructure LAT): “By modernizing the visual systems of 21 full flight simulators, we are once again underlining LAT’s commitment to always supporting our customers in their training with state-of-the-art technology and equipment of the latest technical standard. I am very pleased that all LAT locations in Europe will be able to benefit from this project. In addition to the significantly improved optical quality of the vision systems, the replacement will make a lasting contribution to the more efficient use of our simulators thanks to the reduced maintenance effort and increased system reliability.”

About Lufthansa Aviation Training
With its competencies in training flight and cabin crews at ten training locations worldwide, Lufthansa Aviation Training GmbH (LAT) is among the world leaders in the field of aviation training. The company is headquartered at Munich Airport and employs around 800 people at all its locations. Its client portfolio encompasses more than 250 nationally and internationally renowned airlines, among them the Lufthansa Group airlines. LAT operates close to 200 training devices. These include training aircraft for pilot training, flight simulators for all common aircraft types for pilot training, as well as emergency and service mock-ups for cabin crews. The flight schools of the Lufthansa Group are joined under LAT’s brand European Flight Academy (EFA).

Source: Lufthansa Aviation Training
Photo Credit: Lufthansa Aviation Training

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ACMI Operator Avion Express Welcomes 50 New First Officers Through Partnership with BAA Training

Avion Express, a leading ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) operator, celebrates a major achievement in addressing the demand for pilots by successfully transitioning 50 cadets into First Officers within its ranks this year.

Laura Macutkevic, Vice President People and Culture at Avion Express, emphasized the vital role airlines play in the career paths of new pilots, stating: “The journey to becoming a professional pilot is rigorous, and airlines have a responsibility to invest time and resources to make this pathway more efficient and accessible. At Avion Express, we recognize that our ambitions for growth rely heavily on our flight crew. That’s why we focus on developing effective training programs for all our pilots and fostering strong partnerships with training academies to smooth the transition for cadets into active flying roles.”

Macutkevic also highlighted the collaborative efforts behind this milestone, specifically the partnerships with BAA Training and Eagle Jet.

“Partnerships with pilot training academies are as important as our internal efforts,” Macutkevic explained. “As part of the ASG Group, which encompasses diverse aviation services, including pilot training, we leverage unique synergies to create even greater opportunities for cadets. Our collaboration with BAA Training, for instance, allows us to streamline the training process and deliver results that benefit both pilots and airlines. We are proud to see so many new pilots turning into First Officers and joining Avion Express this year.”

Avion Express also highlighted that those 50 cadets transitioning into First Officers before the end of the year is a significant achievement, but for 2025, the Company plans to keep going in the same direction.

“When we set the goal of transitioning 50 cadets into First Officers last year, it seemed very ambitious. But from today’s perspective, and given our growth, we expect even more next year. Speaking about the pilot upgrade processes at the Company overall, it’s important to note that we’ve also seen 18 First Officers move on to become Senior First Officers, and 16 First Officers advance to the rank of Captain this year”,- shares L. Macutkevic.

Avion Express became the first ACMI operator this year to have a simulator exclusively dedicated to its needs, in partnership with BAA Training and according to Laura this advanced training infrastructure ensures consistent quality and efficiency.

Source: Avion Express
Photo Credit: Avion Express

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US Flight Training Group Hillsboro Aero Academy to Hold December 2024 Event in Berlin, Germany

Oregon, United States based Hillsboro Aero Academy (HAA), a U.S.-based leading provider of helicopter and airplane pilot career training, shared that it will host a live seminar in Berlin, Germany on the 15th of December. The event will showcase the Academy’s unique Joint EASA/FAA training program, which offers students the opportunity to train in the United States and earn dual certification.

In August 2023 HAA together with Austrian-based training organization RotorSky, received approval to conduct professional airplane pilot training in accordance with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations. The school launched its successful joint FAA/EASA helicopter program in 2020; with the approval for airplane training, HAA is the only flight school in the U.S. with comprehensive EASA certification for both airplane and helicopter pilots.

With the EASA approval, HAA is able to offer students the opportunity to earn both FAA and EASA professional pilot licenses and ratings in one location, under one program. Program graduates will be prepared to pursue airline pilot employment across the globe. Combined with the school’s F-1 visa status, the program enables European students to continue building the flight hours they need and gain valuable experience as Certified Flight Instructors (CFI) while residing in the U.S. for up to 23 months after program completion.

All flight training takes place at HAA’s Hillsboro, OR campus. Students in the program will complete all ratings in HAA’s Professional Pilot Program (including the Certified Flight Instructor Instrument and Multi-Engine Instructor ratings), the EASA Commercial (CPL), EASA Multi-Engine Piston Instrument Rating (MEP IR), as well as full credit towards EASA Airline Transport Pilot (ATPL) Theory. A graduate from this program will be ready to fly commercially in the U.S. and will need only to complete the Multi- Crew Cooperation training (MCC) and the respective type-rating to fly line-service in Europe and all other EASA license-accepting countries worldwide.

In April 2024 training aircraft manufacturer Piper Aircraft, Inc. announced the purchase of five Archer TX and five Pilot 100i aircraft for Hillsboro Aero Academy, a global leader in airplane and helicopter pilot training. The first delivery of these aircraft is scheduled for early 2027.

Source: Hillsboro Aero Academy

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CAE is Seeking Simulation Technicians for Vienna Training Centre in December 2024

Vienna, Austria – CAE is seeking expressions of interest for Simulation Technicians of all levels (I/II/III/IV) to join its new Business Aviation Training Centre in Vienna. The state-of-the-art facility will feature Europe’s first Bombardier Global 7500 full-flight simulator and is purpose-built for advanced pilot training in Central Europe.

Candidate Requirements

  • Experience working with simulation systems, including computer systems, interfaces, hydraulics, instructor stations, image generators, and display systems
  • Knowledge of simulation software design methodologies is advantageous
  • Aircraft system knowledge is a plus
  • Proficiency with PC applications (Word, Excel, etc.)
  • Background in simulation, avionics, electrical, or mechanics (training provided for career transitions)

Key Duties

  • Perform operational readiness checks and prepare simulation equipment for daily operations
  • Load exercise scenarios and liaise with customers before and after training sessions
  • React to and resolve equipment failures efficiently
  • Conduct preventative maintenance in line with manuals and procedures
  • Monitor system performance and analyze maintenance challenges
  • Maintain accurate documentation and ensure adherence to safety and company standards

To learn more about the role and to apply, please visit CAE’s careers LinkedIn page.

Source: CAE

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Vertex Solutions And Archer Aviation Complete Cutting-Edge Mixed Reality Flight Simulator For eVTOL Pilot Training

Niceville, Florida, USA – Vertex Solutions, a renowned developer of cutting-edge training solutions, and Archer Aviation Inc. (“Archer”) announced the completion of a mixed reality flight training device (MR FTD) for Archer’s Midnight eVTOL aircraft. Both companies worked together to develop this innovative new flight simulator in support of Archer’s relationship with the Department of Defense under its contracts with the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX program. Archer’s Midnight MR FTD simulator will be on display in the Vertex Solutions booth at this year’s I/ITSEC trade show in Orlando, FL on Dec. 2-6.

The companies will now focus on bringing the Midnight MR FTD to an unprecedented level of excellence, targeting an eVTOL equivalent of FAA Level 7 FTD certification—believed to be an industry first in mixed reality flight training.

“Flight simulators and mixed reality devices will play a critical role in the training of our pilots,” said Archer COO of Urban Air Mobility, Tom Anderson. “Partnering with Vertex Solutions allows us to leverage their expertise in mixed reality training to ensure that our pilots are exceptionally prepared to operate Midnight safely and efficiently.”

“Collaborating with Archer on what is poised to become the inaugural FAA-qualified mixed reality eVTOL aircraft flight training device is extremely exciting for us,” expressed Dennis Wikoff, President and COO of Vertex Solutions. “This has the potential to be a game changer for the flight training community.”

The Midnight MR FTD integrates Midnight’s hardware and flight model, RYAN AEROSPACE’s custom simulator platform, Varjo’s XR-4 headsets, and Aechelon Technology’s Nucleus image generator.

This effort leverages Vertex Solutions’ extensive experience as a systems integrator for current Defense Innovation Unit sponsored mixed reality programs such as the USAF’s Multi-Place Mixed Reality rotary-wing simulator and the Virtual Training for the Air Dominance program. Archer’s Midnight MR FTD brings a world-class mixed reality flight simulator to the commercial eVTOL aircraft industry.

About Vertex Solutions
Vertex Solutions delivers mission-critical training solutions that empower people to excel in complex, real-world environments. Specializing in systems integration for XR training technology, Vertex has a proven record of success with U.S. and international military clients, as well as Government, Commercial, and Civil Aviation sectors. Vertex is dedicated to enhancing training quality, reducing costs, and improving safety through innovative integration and expert collaboration.

Source: Vertex Solutions
Photo Credit: Vertex Solutions

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