Market Intelligence: Europe

Global Flight Training Group Skyborne Announces New Cargo Operator Partnership for Fully Funded Cadet Program

Gloucestershire Airport, United Kingdom headquartered – Skyborne Airline Academy is partnering with DHL, the world’s leading logistics company, on a fully funded Integrated Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) programme for DHL Air (UK) employees.

The first candidates from the airline’s East Midlands base have joined Skyborne to commence their UK CAA Integrated ATPL course, before becoming First Officers on one of DHL Air (UK)’s fleet of Boeing aircraft.

Lee Woodward, CEO, Skyborne, says: “At Skyborne, we’re strong advocates of making pilot training accessible for all, regardless of background. Our partnership with DHL Air (UK) continues this drive to remove financial barriers to entry and encourage greater diversity in our industry.”

Debbie Moore, Head of Talent Management and Development, DHL Air (UK), says: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Skyborne for our first ever sponsored flight training initiative. With graduates from the academy already flying with DHL, we knew we were making the right choice.  This cadet pilot programme gives an opportunity of a lifetime to our team members who could not otherwise afford the dream. Thanks to our funding and Skyborne’s expertise, our employees can pursue a pilot career with confidence.”

Jordan Brown, DHL Air (UK), says: “I am excited to start my flight training with Skyborne. I’ve been working at DHL within the HR department for the past six years and now DHL has given me the opportunity of a lifetime, which never felt within reach, to fly our aircraft worldwide. I’m incredibly grateful to both DHL and Skyborne and look forward to completing my Integrated ATPL and returning to DHL Air (UK).”

Jamie McKenzie, DHL Air (UK), says: “I’ve always dreamt of a flying career, but I never believed I’d be able to achieve it. I’ve been working at DHL for the last nine years, most recently as an Aircraft Handling Specialist on board our aircraft. Now I will begin my journey towards flying the aircraft I used to load. I’m incredibly thankful to DHL and Skyborne for providing me with this opportunity of a lifetime.”

Skyborne’s partnership with DHL Air (UK) marks the second fully airline sponsored programme supported by the academy in the past 12 months

About Skyborne
Skyborne Airline Academy is a premier airline training academy based at Vero Beach, Florida, United States, and Gloucestershire Airport in the United Kingdom. Established by industry experts, Skyborne brings a fresh approach to airline pilot training.

Founders Tom Misner (chairman) and Lee Woodward (CEO) have unsurpassed experience in commercial aviation, education and training. Their vision has created a training environment where the highest standard of teaching, safety and relevant airline-style training is maintained, and interactive learning is encouraged.

Using a combination of tried and tested methods and the latest technology to assess competence, suitability, aptitude and resilience, Skyborne recruits the very best candidates to minimise additional training, reduce failure rates and provide airlines with better pilots and cabin crew.

Skyborne is proud to hold close relationships with the world’s leading airlines, offering opportunities for trainees as part of the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Programme, the Propel Flight Academy by Delta, the SkyWest Professional Pilot Pathway and more.

Source: Skyborne
Photo Credit: Skyborne

Related Posts

Boeing’s Worker Strike Ends – Aircraft Deliveries to Accelerate Going into 2025

USA – Boeing’s largest union of machinists has voted to end a nearly two-month strike, accepting a four-year contract that includes significant wage and benefit increases. The contract promises a 38% wage increase over four years and $12,000 in signing bonuses, securing major gains for the 33,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). The decision is a pivotal moment for Boeing, which has struggled with financial and reputational challenges in recent years.

  • The contract includes a guarantee that Boeing’s next airplane will be manufactured in the Seattle area, a significant win for IAM, with 59% of voting members approving the deal.
  • The new agreement raises average machinist salaries to $119,309 annually by the contract’s end, up from $75,608, and restores parental leave and an annual bonus program.

Statements

  • Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg noted in a message to employees, “We will only move forward by listening and working together… There is much work ahead to return to the excellence that made Boeing an iconic company.”
  • “It’s time we all come back together and focus on rebuilding the business and delivering the world’s best airplanes,” Ortberg added, calling for unity.

Boeing’s Financial and Operational Challenges

  • Ending the strike is expected to aid Boeing’s recovery, but analysts estimate that the walkout cost the company around $1 billion per month.
  • Production of popular models, including the 737 Max and 777, must resume promptly to restore Boeing’s revenue stream, which was already affected by safety and compliance issues with the 737 Max.
  • Boeing continues to face financial strain, reporting a $6.2 billion loss for the latest quarter, with ongoing cost-cutting measures set to reduce its 171,000-employee workforce by 10% next year.
  • Ortberg has indicated Boeing may divest some non-core divisions to focus on aircraft production and has already instituted multiple cost-saving measures.

Source: IAM and Boeing

AFM team notes

  • How does this industry development relate to a flight school?
    The end of the strike should accelerate aircraft deliveries providing a boost to airline pilot hiring demand in the first half of 2025 compared to the second half of 2024.
  • How does this industry development relate to a full flight simulator pilot training center?
    The end of the strike should accelerate aircraft deliveries providing a boost to full flight simulator hour demand across Boeing types airline with especially type ratings increasing full flight simulator utilisation – forecasting FFS hour demand to increase in the first half of 2025 compared to the second half of 2024.
  • How does this industry development relate to a pilot training industry supplier?
    Suppliers may see heightened demand for training equipment as Boeing stabilizes and accelerates aircraft production, particularly for popular commercial jet models.

Related Posts

HAVELSAN Celebrates its Commercial Full Flight Simulators Providing Over 50,000 Hours of Training Capacity to Airlines and Training Centers in 2024

In 2024, HAVELSAN delivered a growing number of pilot training devices and reinforced its commitment to industry-leading after-sales service, providing over 50,000 hours of pilot training capacity with its full flight simulators. This achievement underscores HAVELSAN’s dedication to supporting full flight simulator operators worldwide.

This milestone is being celebrated at the European Airline Training Symposium (EATS) 2024. It follows a series of recent accomplishments, including multiple EASA certifications for Airbus A320 and Boeing B737MAX full flight simulators, and the delivery of several full flight simulators to airlines and independent training centers, such as Turkish Airlines and IFTC.

Earlier in 2024, HAVELSAN announced plans to enhance support for airlines and simulator training centers by scaling its production capacity to manufacture up to eight full flight simulators per year. Additionally, it is collaborating with airlines to expand simulator training center operations, offering flexible solutions tailored to customer needs. HAVELSAN is placing particular emphasis on industry-leading after-sales support and exploring long-term cooperation projects with its clients.

With more than 40 years of experience in the simulation industry, HAVELSAN is committed to meeting the demand for Flight Simulator Training Devices both domestically and internationally, consistently delivering advanced solutions to its customers.

Source: HAVELSAN

Related Posts

Irish Pilot Training Organization, Atlantic Flight Training Academy, Selects Simorg for Managing Training Operations

Gözen Digital Aviation is pleased to announce that the Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) has chosen Simorg as their digital solution for managing training operations. AFTA, based in Cork, Ireland, is the first Irish institution to adopt Simorg, marking another milestone in Simorg’s rapid growth across Europe.

AFTA’s decision to implement Simorg reflects its commitment to enhancing operational efficiency, providing cutting-edge tools for pilot training, and maintaining its reputation for delivering exceptional results in aviation training. By integrating Simorg’s digital platform, AFTA will streamline processes, improve data management, and ensure a seamless training experience not only for students but also instructors as well.

Mert Yağcı, Commercial Director of Gözen Digital Aviation, commented on this significant collaboration: “We are truly glad to see Simorg’s rapid expansion in Europe with a longstanding institution like AFTA joining our platform. AFTA’s focus on exceptional pilot training will now be enhanced with the integration of Simorg’s advanced digital solutions.”

Mark Casey, Founder, CEO, and Head of Training at AFTA, said “At AFTA, we are constantly looking for ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our training operations. By adopting Simorg, we are ensuring that our students and instructors have access to the most advanced tools available, enabling a smoother, more streamlined operations. We are truly looking forward to embracing all that Simorg has to offer our flight training academy.” 

About Gozen Digital Aviation
Gozen Digital Aviation (GDA) focuses on creating advanced digital solutions for aviation industry, while also managing the digital strategies of leading companies in the market. GDA creates high functionality software through the expertise gathered from multiple verticals of aviation. The company is currently dedicated to developing software in segments such as flight operations, training center management, aviation security, ground handling operations, crew scheduling/aircraft management, flight/trip planning and aviation finance.

About SIMORG
SIMORG is an end-to-end and integrated training management software tailored for simulator centers and flight schools. It integrates features such as scheduling, training management, maintenance, compliance, inventory management and reporting to support the operational needs of flight training organizations.

About Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA):
AFTA is one of Europe’s largest and leading flight training academies, based in Cork, Ireland. It has been delivering exceptional pilot training programs since its inception, providing world-class training to cadets from around the globe.

Source: Gözen Digital Aviation
Photo Credit: Gözen Digital Aviation

Related Posts

Global Flight Training Group Airways Aviation Expands Team at France Campus in 2024

Global flight training group Airways Aviation, which operates pilot training academies across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and India has shared that Airways Aviation ESMA, its France base, has announced the addition of two key personnel to its team in France, strengthening its human resources and engineering departments.

  • Yousra Dachri has been appointed as Head of Human Resources, responsible for leading the company’s HR initiatives.
  • Paul Cauquil joins as a member of the Continuing Airworthiness Organization (CAO) Engineering department, focusing on ensuring technical standards and safety within the organization.

These new team members aim to reinforce Airways Aviation ESMA’s mission of delivering high-quality aviation training.

About Airways Aviation ESMA
Airways Aviation ESMA is the world’s largest group of privately owned multidisciplinary aviation education & training academies. Their ATO’s are certified by EASA, CASA, ICAO, the CAAC and IATA offering a range of courses and training solutions to both the Civilian and Military markets.

Source: Airways Aviation ESMA
Photo Credit: Airways Aviation ESMA

Related Posts

Growing to Become One of the Largest Flight Schools in Greece – Egnatia Aviation

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series AFM’s Customer Success & Business Development Manager Agata Marszalek speaks with George Triantafyllidis – Chief Commercial Officer at Egnatia Aviation – one of the largest flight training organisations in Europe conducting high quality pilot training for airlines and individuals.

The conversation covers:

  • Company Growth and New Facilities: Egnatia Aviation, based in Kavala, Greece, has expanded significantly, including the development of a private general aviation airport, Lydia Airport, to enhance pilot training facilities. More than 240 full time students are undergoing commercial training in Egnatia’s own General Aviation airport “Lydia” in Kavala, Greece.
  • Enhanced Training and Fleet: With a Diamond fleet of 18 aircraft and advanced simulators, Egnatia’s facilities reflect their commitment to high training standards. A notable aspect of Egnatia’s training model is that all aircraft and simulators are fully owned by the company, underscoring their strong financial stability. Additionally, Egnatia has an in-house maintenance department staffed with experienced technicians, allowing them to ensure that all aircraft are kept in optimal condition.
  • High employment rate: Egnatia boasts a high employment rate for graduates, exceeding 95% within the first year, fueled by airline partnerships with companies like Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, Wizz Air and Iraqi Airways.
  • Industry Demand and Challenges: George highlighted the global pilot demand, as well as the challenges of limited training capacity and flight instructor shortages, which Egnatia addresses through cadet scholarships and fleet expansion. As airlines ramp up hiring to fulfill pilot demand, instructors at flight schools are often recruited into commercial airline roles, making it challenging for training organizations to retain them. Egnatia Aviation addresses this by implementing cadet scholarships specifically aimed at training instructors, thus creating a pathway for student pilots to transition into instructional roles within the academy. Egnatia also collaborates with experienced airline captains and former Greek Air Force pilots, leveraging their expertise to maintain high training standards while ensuring a steady supply of instructors

For more information:

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

To stay up to date and get notified about all of the latest episodes from AFM you can follow us through the below platforms:

Related Posts

Avia Solutions Group Announces 2024 Appointment for Executive Vice Chairman of the Board

Irish-based Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, has appointed Tom Klein as Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board, a new role, effective immediately.

He will continue in his roles as Senior Managing Director at US -based Certares Management, a private equity investment firm which invested into the Group in 2021.

Klein brings to the Group extensive knowledge of the global aviation, travel, tourism and technology sectors. His main responsibilities will include leading on investor relations and advising on wider business development while his geographic location will allow for executive presence and a greater focus on activities in the Americas.

The appointment comes at a time when Avia Solutions Group is growing significantly, with the Group reporting first half of 2024 revenues of €1.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 29% and a 34% growth in EBITDA year-on-year to €179 million.

The Group has ongoing plans to further expand its global presence and ability to offer capacity solutions, particularly during peak seasons, to airlines around the world.

Gediminas Ziemelis, Chairman of Avia Solutions Group, said: “With his extensive experience in global aviation and travel sectors, and a proven track record in investor relations, Tom is a great addition to our senior leadership team. I look forward to working with him closely as we execute our long-term growth strategy.”

Tom Klein, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of Avia Solutions Group, said: “I am honoured to be appointed as Executive Vice-Chairman. The demand for the Group’s services is increasing significantly, and I look forward to playing a key role in expanding our global customer base.”

Prior to joining Certares in 2018, Klein was the CEO and President of Sabre, a global technology company serving the travel industry. Klein led the successful IPO of Sabre in 2014. He served 7 years as a founding board member of Brand USA, culminating his tenure as Chairman. Klein has served on multiple boards and prior to Sabre, he held management positions at American Airlines and Consolidated Freightways

Avia Solutions Group currently operates a fleet of 214-aircraft, split between 174 passenger aircraft and 40 freighters.

Source: Avia Solutions Group
Photo Credit: Avia Solutions Group

Related Posts