Market Intelligence: Europe

Training Aircraft Manufacturer Blackshape Aircraft to Showcase Aircraft at Air Expo Abu Dhabi 2024

Italy headquartered training aircraft manufacturer Blackshape Aircraft, will debut its BK160 Gabriél in the Middle East at the upcoming Air Expo Abu Dhabi from November 19-21, 2024. The event, held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), will offer aviation enthusiasts, professionals, and potential buyers a unique opportunity to witness the Gabriél up close.

Visitors are invited to meet the Blackshape team at booth #440 to explore the Gabriél’s standout features and learn more about the company’s vision for advanced personal and training aircraft.

Source: Blackshape Aircraft
Photo Credit: Blackshape Aircraft

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Greek Flight School Global Aviation SA and Airline Extend Partnership in of Airline Cadet Pilot Training Scholarship Program in 2025

Global Aviation SA, one of the largest flight training organisations in Greece, is honored to announce the continuation of its collaboration with Aegean Airlines in the esteemed 3-year Scholarship Program, designed to launch the careers of 120 aspiring pilots. Through this program, selected individuals with a passion for aviation will have the opportunity to join the fleets of AEGEAN and Olympic Air as certified pilots.

The program, structured as an intensive, full-time course, spans a duration of 17 to 19 months, with classes commencing on March 4, 2025.

Requirements:

  • Have Greek or Cypriot citizenship.
  • To have been born after January 1, 1996.
  • To be at least a high school diploma holder.
  • To know the Greek and English languages ​​perfectly. The certification of the level of the English language will take place during the evaluation process.
  • Male candidates must have already fulfilled their military obligations or complete them by February 28, 2025. It is expressly stated that candidates who have received a deferral of conscription are not accepted into the Program.

Application submissions for the Scholarship Program are accepted exclusively through AEGEAN’s website, where a dedicated online form has been provided. Candidates must submit their applications and CVs no later than December 31, 2024, at 23:59.

Source:
Photo Credit: Aegean Airlines

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Loft Dynamics Unveils VR Instruction from World-Renowned Pilots to Increase Access and Quality of Training, Elevate Safety Standards and Address the Pilot Shortage

  • Virtual Demonstration Mode Enhances Training Quality and Safety at Scale for Aircraft OEMs, Operators and Pilots
  • New VR Simulations for Night Vision and Whiteout/Brownout Conditions Make High-Risk Scenario Training Safe
  • Pilots Gain Personalized Insights to Track Progress, Accelerate Skill Development and Gamify Their Training Experience

Zurich, Switzerland —Loft Dynamics, the global leader in qualified virtual reality (VR) flight simulation training devices (FSTDs), today announced a suite of industry-shaping features to more efficiently and effectively address the global pilot shortage and high rates of training-related accidents. Central to this is LofTWIN, a virtual demonstration mode that digitizes flight instruction from world-renowned pilots and instructors from aircraft original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This tool makes their expertise immersive, accessible, and scalable across Loft Dynamics’ global network of simulators. Additionally, Loft Dynamics is introducing new simulations—including Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) and Whiteout/Brownout conditions—that make skill- and scenario-based training safer and make simulations more realistic.

The Next-Gen Solution: Immersive Hardware and Instruction

“Our VR FSTDs have made realistic and safe pilot training drastically more accessible and affordable, but hardware alone isn’t enough,” said Fabi Riesen, founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics. “The industry faces a global pilot shortage, pandemic-related retirements, and rising demand for air transport—issues compounded by the high costs and limited availability of safe yet effective training solutions. LofTWIN addresses these challenges on a new level by making world-class instruction more accessible and scalable. More than just a tool, LofTWIN is a powerful knowledge-sharing platform that captures and disseminates invaluable expertise to improve training for the next generation of exceptional pilots. It’s the first in a series of upcoming software innovations aimed at more comprehensively democratizing the best pilot training resources.” 

Introduction to LofTWIN

LofTWIN records and transforms expert flight instruction into an immersive VR experience for deployment across Loft Dynamics’ cloud-connected simulator fleet. Its ever-expanding catalog of demonstrations features legendary pilots and instructors, including Glenn White, an experienced EMS pilot and former factory instructor at Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters); Gerold Biner, former CEO of Air Zermatt and a rescue pilot in the Himalayas and the Alps; Scott Urschel, one of the world’s few aerobatic helicopter pilots; and Yann Guérin, head of pilot training at Airbus Helicopters. With LofTWIN, pilots build essential skills safely and more efficiently, while OEMs benefit from consistent and accurate demonstrations that lead to safer aircraft operations in real-world flight.

The Pilot and Operator Experience

Pilots and operators choose their scenario-based demonstration through Loft Dynamics’ training device, immersing themselves in a realistic VR cockpit with expert virtual instructors. The instructors’ movements are visually replicated by a full-body avatar that provides real-time guidance, while haptic feedback from the controls enhances the experience. After a LofTWIN demo session, pilots can apply learnings to their simulator training, where advanced eye and body tracking monitors responses during each maneuver. The data captured in these sessions equips pilots with insights to track progress over time and benchmark performance against experts. The gamified approach promotes regular skill development and helps usher in a new generation of digital-native pilots. Additionally, LofTWIN allows operators’ chief pilots and instructors to produce high-quality lessons in a standardized way, educating everyone in the organization more efficiently.

The Aircraft OEM Experience

For aircraft OEMs, now their chief instructors can easily record demonstrations on any Loft Dynamics simulator, allowing them to develop the most relevant and precise instruction and instantly deploy it to any Loft Dynamics training device worldwide. The instructors execute specific maneuvers in the simulator as they usually would, providing detailed commentary through the headset microphone. All audio, visuals, control movements, and force feedback during the session are captured, uploaded, and packaged into a shareable session.

“This technology is an important milestone for us,” said Yann Guérin, Head of Pilot Training at Airbus Helicopters. “LofTWIN lets us create instructor demonstrations. With just a push of a button, instructors can record their demo on the VR H125 simulator and instantly share it with their trainees. Thus, the training is much more consistent and efficient. Instructors are able to demonstrate and assist their trainees. Furthermore, these demos could be shared within the VR H125 instructor community, increasing training standardization and safety.”  

“LofTWIN also allows OEMs to monetize their expertise,” Riesen added. “For instance, Air Zermatt’s VR mountain rescue demo in whiteout conditions could be purchased by operators in Nepal training rescue pilots and uploaded to their Loft sim. This goes beyond just providing access to exceptional instruction; it connects people to the most relevant expertise available, helping us collectively improve pilot skills and safety.” 

Night Operations, Whiteouts and Brownouts Meet VR 

Loft Dynamics continuously develops new simulations of high-risk, complex environments that cannot be safely or accurately replicated in-flight or with other VR tools. This includes the NVG module, which simulates night flight and allows pilots to adjust NVG controls, such as goggle settings, as they would in the real world. Similarly, whiteout and brownout conditions are recreated in VR to elicit realistic physiological responses. Pilots can fine-tune environmental factors like sand and snow levels, enabling them to safely practice maintaining control with minimal visual cues.

About Loft Dynamics
Loft Dynamics AG is the global leader in qualified virtual reality flight simulation training devices (FSTD). It is the first and only VR FSTD qualified by the FAA and EASA. Equipped with a 3D high-resolution panoramic view, dynamic six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform, and full-scale replica cockpit with a unique pose tracking system, our revolutionary VR simulators provide a more immersive, realistic, customizable, and safe training experience. By offering a training solution 10 times smaller and significantly more cost-effective than legacy simulators, we enhance training accessibility and scalability, empowering highly skilled pilots to meet global demand. We serve leading manufacturers, airlines, operators, schools, and organizations worldwide. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and Zurich, Switzerland, our team comprises passionate engineers, developers, and aviation experts.

Source: Loft Dynamics
Photo Credit: Loft Dynamics

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Global Associations Rally Support Against Reduced Crew Standards in Commercial Aviation

Washington, DC – The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), a major global transport authority, has committed to opposing reduced crew operations in commercial airline transport. In response to a resolution introduced by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), ITF members worldwide agreed to unite against any current and future efforts to lower the minimum crew complement in airline flight decks, citing critical safety concerns.

  • ITF’s resolution opposes any initiatives to decrease crew requirements, which include proposals for single-pilot or fully autonomous airline operations.
  • The ITF resolution aligns with findings from a recent global survey, indicating that 76% of the public opposes flying on a pilotless or single-pilot aircraft.
  • Safety regulators, notably the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), have been exploring reduced-crew operations in collaboration with Airbus, focusing on developing criteria for single-pilot operations and extended minimum crew schemes.
  • ALPA and other pilot unions argue that a two-pilot cockpit is essential for maintaining safety and reliability in commercial aviation, particularly in handling in-flight emergencies.

Statement:

  • “Some aircraft manufacturers are designing airliners to be flown with only one pilot on the flight deck during the cruise portion of the flight, and eventually with zero pilots,” said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA president. “This profit-over-safety scheme is actually being supported by some aviation safety regulators and airlines, contrary to the highest standard of aviation safety.”
  • “Airline pilots know—as does the global community—that having at least two fully qualified, highly trained, and well-rested pilots on the flight deck is an airliner’s most important safety asset,” Ambrosi added.

About the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), headquartered in London, UK, represents 18 million transport workers across multiple sectors globally. ITF advocates for fair labor standards and safe working conditions for its members and promotes high safety standards in global transport.

About the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA)
Founded in 1931, the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) is the largest airline pilot union globally, representing over 67,000 pilots at 39 U.S. and Canadian airlines. ALPA advocates for airline safety, security, and fair working conditions.

Source: ITF and ALPA

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European Flag Carrier Head of Pilot Selection and Training Visit Egnatia Aviation in October 2024

Kavala, Greece – Egnatia Aviation, one of Greece’s largest flight training organisations, recently hosted a visit from Aegean Airlines’ Head of Pilot Selection and Training Supervisors at its training center.

Back in October Aegean Airlines had officially launched its 2024 Airline Pilot Scholarship Programme, reaffirming its long-standing partnership with Egnatia Aviation. Aspiring cadets have the opportunity to apply for comprehensive scholarships until December 31st, 2024, offering a pathway to a career as an airline pilot.

Source: Egnatia Aviation

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