Market Intelligence: Europe

OSM Aviation Academy Signs New Partnership Agreement with Norwegian in December 2024

Global pilot training group OSM Aviation Academy and Norwegian have signed a partnership agreement, creating opportunities for students at the flight school to pursue a career with the airline after completing their pilot training.

“We are very pleased with this partnership with Norwegian, as it provides our students with a unique opportunity to start their careers as pilots in a well-established and recognized airline after completing their training. The fact that Norwegian has once again chosen to collaborate with us is proof that we are educating competent pilots who are attractive in the job market,” says Martin Floor, Managing Director of OSM Aviation Academy.

Many of the large international airlines are short on pilots. In the USA, several airlines have had to reduce their routes and cancel flights. Analyses show that the need for pilots will continue to increase going forward, and Norwegian estimates that they will need many new pilots in the coming years to meet planned growth in demand and an upcoming generational shift in the industry.

This is a great way for us to attract pilots. With this new agreement, we get the opportunity to get to know the cadets during their education. This also allows those who are hired by Norwegian to start working immediately while receiving Type-rating course for the aircraft the company operates, as well as other necessary theory and advanced training courses,” says Guro Poulsen, PEOPLE Director at Norwegian.

The partnership involves Norwegian actively participating in the training and selection of future candidates.

About OSM Aviation Academy
OSM Aviation Academy has trained pilots since 1963 and is shaping the future of aviation by offering first-class education for the next generation of pilots and services for airlines. OSM Aviation Academy aims to train enough qualified and competent pilots in the coming years. During pilot training, the focus is on reducing climate emissions and ensuring diversity in the industry. The flight school offers education in Norway, Sweden, and the USA.

Source: OSM Aviation Academy
Photo Credit: OSM Aviation Academy

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Regional Aircraft Manufacturer, Deutsche Aircraft, Appoints Nico Neumann as Co-CEO

Germany – Deutsche Aircraft, a leading regional aircraft manufacturer, has announced the appointment of Nico Neumann as Co-CEO alongside current CEO, Dave Jackson. Neumann will guide Deutsche Aircraft through its next phase, delivering the D328eco® aircraft to market by 2027. This role is part of a managed transition, with Neumann set to assume full CEO responsibilities for the Deutsche Aircraft-operated businesses in Munich and Leipzig by mid-2025. Dave Jackson will continue to support Neumann and the growing team, remaining as CEO of the parent company, Deutsche Aircraft Group.

Nico Neumann will assume the role of Co-CEO from 1 January 2025 and will relinquish his current position of Chief Operating Officer. Over the past 18 years, Neumann has held various operational positions within the Deutsche Aircraft and 328 Support Services, including Vice President of Operations and Programmes. In this capacity, he was responsible for developing the aircraft production programme and lead the supply chain team, as well as being a key point of contact with the German government. He was also part of the core team that identified and selected the location for the Final Assembly Line for the D328eco in Leipzig.

Neumann established a strong foundation in the aviation sector as a B2 certified engineer at 328 Support Services. He subsequently advanced to leadership roles, including Head of Avionics & Electric as well as Director of Production & Maintenance, where he successfully supervised numerous VIP modifications and maintenance programs for the global Dornier 328 fleet.

Dave Jackson has for over 18 years been CEO and Managing Director of 328SSG/Deutsche Aircraft. His leadership since 2006 has ensured the business turnaround of the company and continuous and safe operation of the worldwide Dornier 328 fleet, maintaining the company’s position as a leading regional aircraft OEM. Prior to his role at Deutsche Aircraft, he had over 20 years’ experience in the automotive and aviation sectors, specializing in business turnarounds, restructuring and development, including acquisitions, as well as sales, service, and logistics, in airframe and engine maintenance, component manufacturing, as well as regional airline ownership.

During this transition, Nico will work closely with newly appointed COO, Olaf Lawrenz, to ensure the smooth handover of responsibilities. Olaf brings a wealth of experience from companies like Airbus and Asco Industries, where he was VP Supply Chain, leading the Final Assembly Lines, Flight lines and Delivery Centres for the Airbus A320 in Hamburg. His expertise will be crucial in driving Deutsche Aircraft’s continued growth and success.

“This is an exciting time for Deutsche Aircraft,” said Dave Jackson, CEO of Deutsche Aircraft. “I am confident that with Nico’s leadership, experience and commitment to our values, the team will continue to reach new heights on our journey, towards aircraft entry into service.”

“I am thrilled to step into the role of Co-CEO and steer Deutsche Aircraft through this next phase of industrialization as we build towards our future.  I look forward to the collaboration with Olaf and the entire team,” said Nico Neumann, Co-CEO of Deutsche Aircraft.

Deutsche Aircraft remains committed to developing the next-generation turboprop aircraft, the D328eco, with its first flight scheduled for Q4 2025. The construction of the FAL at Leipzig/Halle Airport is well underway and scheduled to become operational around the same time.

Source: Deutsche Aircraft
Photo Credit: Deutsche Aircraft

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Airways Aviation ESMA Appointed Gold Diamond Service Centre

Global flight training group Airways Aviation, which operates pilot training academies across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and India has shared that its France base Airways Aviation ESMAhas been appointed as a Gold Diamond Service Centre. This prestigious designation by Diamond Aircraft, reflects the excellence in maintenance, aircraft management, and customer service provided by its maintenance and engineering services.

Operating as an EASA-certified maintenance and aircraft management organisation with approval number FR.CAO.0090, Airways Aviation ESMA has demonstrated unparalleled expertise in maintaining and enhancing Diamond aircraft, as well as other industry-leading models.

Operational Excellence in 2024

In 2024, Airways Aviation ESMA carried out an impressive array of maintenance and inspections, emphasizing its technical proficiency:

  • 12x 2,000 Flight Hour Inspections
  • 15x 1,000 Flight Hour Inspections
  • 22x 200 Flight Hour Inspections
  • 39x 100 Flight Hour Inspections
  • 4x Diamond DA40 aircraft rebuilt from long-term storage to full operational capability
  • 10x engines replaced across several Diamond DA40 and DA42 aircraft

Expanded Capabilities and Innovations

Airways Aviation ESMA’s capabilities grew significantly during the year, with the acquisition of an Aircraft Paint Cabin that enabled the flight school to paint several complete Diamond DA40 aircraft and numerous DA42 fuselages and wings, ensuring superior aesthetics and enhanced functional finishes.

In addition, Airways Aviation ESMA undertook several complex composite structural repairs, including challenging wing repairs on DA40 and DA42 aircraft, thereby ensuring the structural integrity and airworthiness of these advanced machines.

Its expertise in aircraft modifications was further evidenced by the installation of new Bubble Canopy designs in 3x DA40 aircraft, improving pilot comfort and visibility.

On the avionics front, Airways Aviation ESMA successfully completed SBAS LPV Garmin equipment installations in 2x DA42 aircraft, thereby improving navigation accuracy and enhancing operational capabilities.

Digital Transformation and Efficiency Gains

In 2024, Airways Aviation ESMA achieved complete operational digitisation, eliminating all physical paperwork. The result is a fully digital workflow with Work Orders (WOs) and digital checklists, streamlining our processes and significantly increasing the efficiency of our technical office.

“Being designated as a Gold Diamond Service Centre and Austro Service Centre adds to our long-standing authorisation as a Continental Service Centre for Diesel Engines (Centurion). These accolades reaffirm our position as a trusted and versatile maintenance organisation for Diamond aircraft and beyond.

As we close a remarkable year, Airways Aviation ESMA remains committed to setting higher benchmarks in the aviation maintenance sector. We thank our clients and partners for their trust and look forward to continued excellence in 2025 and beyond,” said José António Costa, Chief Technical Officer, Airways Aviation.

About Airways Aviation ESMA
Operating in Montpellier, in the south of France, Airways Aviation ESMA is one of the largest aviation training organisations in Europe, active since 1988. Over the years, we have trained thousands of pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, ground handlers, and other aviation professionals. As part of the Airways Aviation Group — the largest privately owned aviation training organisation outside the US, with a direct presence in 14 countries across 4 continents and over 45 years of experience — we offer a comprehensive range of aviation training programmes. These range from pilot and cabin crew training to maintenance technician and ground handling courses, as well as military and higher education programmes in cooperation with respected universities.

Source: Airways Aviation ESMA
Photo Credit: Airways Aviation ESMA

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Flight Simulator Manufacturer FTD.aero Completes the Factory Acceptance Test of an A320 FNPT II MCC Device for Urbe Aero ATO

Poland – Flight simulator manufacturer FTD.aero has completed a new simulator based on the A320 aircraft, for the Italian pilot training organization Urbe Aero ATO. The device was officially accepted at the manufacturer’s facility in Poland in December 2024.

Urbe Aero ATO is a leading training organization from Italy, specializing in training future airline pilots to the highest standards. Its wide range of courses spans from PPL to ATPL licenses, including Airline Pilot Standard (APS) MCC and A-UPRT training, preparing pilots for careers in commercial aviation.

The team overseeing the Factory Acceptance Test of the simulator consisted of five members, including experienced airline pilots flying Airbus A320s and simulator technicians. They highlighted the exceptional attention to detail, functionality, and top-notch quality of the simulator, greatly exceeding FNPT II MCC standards.

This is the second FTD.aero-built flight simulation training device built to join the Urbe Aero’s fleet, confirming the trust placed in FTD.aero’s devices. The long-term cooperation between the two companies demonstrates a high level of satisfaction with previous solutions and a shared commitment to raising aviation training standards. As a result, Urbe Aero gains another tool that will enable effective training of future pilots in highly realistic training environment, fully meeting the demands and trends in the modern airline training market.

The new simulator is set to be installed in Rome in January 2025, with certification by the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) planned for February.  Following the successful certification of the previous simulator, based on the B73M aircraft, this process is expected to proceed smoothly, allowing the first cadets to begin A320 training in the first quarter of 2025.

Source: FTD.aero
Photo Credit: FTD.aero

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UK-Headquartered Pilot Training Group Leading Edge Aviation Hosts Airline’s Pilot Recruitment Team in December 2024

Oxford, United Kingdom – Leading Edge Aviation, which operates flight training bases in the United Kingdom and Spain, welcomed the TUI Airways Pilot Recruitment team this week, providing its students with a valuable opportunity to learn more about career prospects with the world-renowned travel company.

  • TUI Airways, part of TUI Group, operates in 180 regions worldwide with a workforce of 60,000 employees.
  • Leading Edge Aviation students gained insights into TUI’s operations and recruitment processes

Leading Edge Aviation has reached a significant milestone in 2024 with over 100 students have received conditional job offers from major UK airlines during their training. This achievement means that more than a quarter of their current students have been ‘tagged’ for future First Officer roles.

Source: Leading Edge Aviation
Photo Credit: Leading Edge Aviation

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Angolan Operator Group Renews Pilot Training Partnership with Global Pilot Training Solution Provider CAE

Full flight simulator operator and pilot training solution provider CAE has shared that Angola headquartered Bestfly has renewed their training agreement with CAE for another 2 years. Bestfly, the largest BizAv operator based in Angola, will continue their training on Global Express, Gulfstream G550, Citation XLS, and Falcon 900B at CAE’s locations in Dubai, Dallas, UK, and New Jersey.

“We are proud to be their training partner of choice since 2022,” said CAE.

Source: CAE
Photo Credit: CAE

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Norwegian Announces Partnership with 4 Flight Schools in December 2024

Norwegian has partnered with four key schools to train pilots to ensure future expertise and manpower in a critical industry. The agreement is a win-win for both Norwegian and the students who are offered jobs after graduation.

“It’s a good way for us to attract pilots, and the cooperation agreements allow us to get to know the students during their education. The students who are given the opportunity to be employed with us can start working directly after completing the course. At the same time, they will receive courses in type rating for the aircraft type we operate in Norwegian, as well as other necessary theory and further education courses,” says Guro Poulsen, Executive Vice President of People at Norwegian.

The cooperation agreements are important to conclude now, as it is expected that the global aviation industry will have an increasing need for pilots in the coming years. This is partly due to the fact that many current pilots are approaching retirement age, an increased demand for air travel, and that the costs of pilot training, which you still have to pay yourself, are increasing and become a financial barrier for many who want a career as a pilot.

Norwegian has entered into agreements with the flight schools:

  • Center Air Pilot Academy (CAPA) in Denmark
  • Lund University Trafikflyghögskolan (TFHS) in Sweden
  • OSM Aviation Academy in Norway
  • FTEJerez in Spain

All four are highly recognized pilot schools with a strong connection to the industry, modern aircraft fleets and experienced instructors that make the schools attractive to future pilots.

Anna Kjær Thorsøe, representative from the Center Air Pilot Academy (CAPA), says:

“We are very pleased with the collaboration with Norwegian. Center Air Pilot Academy has delivered pilots to Norwegian for many years, so we already know each other well. This strengthens our educational program and ensures that our students have a motivating and targeted educational journey. When an airline like Norwegian engages in pilot training, it both raises the standard in the industry and gives students a clear career path. For us as a pilot school, it is fantastic to be part of this process, where together we contribute to ensuring the expertise of the future in aviation.”

Pilot schools ensure qualified labour for aviation

The pilot training takes about 20 months. The students that Norwegian gets to know along the way, and who are deemed to be a good fit for the company, will be offered a job immediately after graduation.

“Aviation is critical infrastructure and is of great importance to society. It is important to ensure that the aviation industry has a stable supply of skilled employees in order to maintain excellence in the future. The aviation industry employs tens of thousands of people in the Nordic region – Norwegian alone employs almost 1,300 pilots, of which more than 200 of them are based in Denmark,” says Guro Poulsen.

Norwegian has around 800 employees in Denmark, making it both a large Danish workplace and the second largest airline in the country. The Norwegian Group, which consists of Norwegian and Widerøes Flyveselskap, has a total of 8,500 employees.

Source: Norwegian

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Pilot Training Industry Supplier Feature – Elite Simulation Solutions

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series we speak with Christopher Reville – Chief Commercial Officer at ELITE Simulation Solutions AG, a global provider of IFR train­ing soft­ware, flight con­trols and flight train­ing devices.

The conversation covers:

  1. Evolution and Product Range: ELITE Simulation Solutions, founded in 1987, began as a simulation software company and evolved into a global solution provider of flight training devices. They offer a wide range of products, from basic desktop simulators to advanced flight simulators for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, catering to civilian, military, and educational sectors.
  2. Customizable Solutions and Innovation: A key strength of ELITE is its ability to develop tailored solutions for clients, thanks to in-house control over both hardware and software. This agility enables the company to adapt quickly to specific customer needs, such as developing bespoke dual-pilot configurations or integrating unique avionics setups.
  3. Global Reach and Impact: With installations across the world, including in the US, Europe, Africa, and Asia, ELITE’s devices serve various organizations, from universities and flight schools to government aviation authorities. Recent projects include the delivery of an FNPT II simulator to Brno University of Technology in the Czech Republic, a Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD) for Cameroon’s Ministry of Interior Civil Aviation Authority, and an A320 FTD Level 4 simulator in Santiago, Chile.
  4. Commitment to Quality and Safety: ELITE emphasizes Swiss-engineered precision, ensuring high-quality flight models that meet and exceed regulatory standards. Their devices are designed to provide realistic training and enhance safety through accurate simulation of high-risk scenarios, thereby preparing pilots effectively.
  5. Industry Trends and Forward-Thinking Vision: The company is actively tracking trends like VR, mixed reality, and emerging aircraft types such as UAVs and EVTOLs. While cautious about adopting new technology, ELITE prioritizes meaningful advancements that improve training value, focusing on enhancing safety and cost efficiency for flight schools and aviation organizations.

For more information:

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

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