Market Intelligence: -Flight School

New Zealand-based Flight School Unveils Newly Completed Hangar at Ardmore Base in 2024

Southern Wings is pleased to announce the completion of its new hangar at the Ardmore base. This facility marks a significant enhancement in the organization’s operations and training capabilities.

The completion of the hangar coincides with a notable milestone: Southern Wings is celebrating its 10-year anniversary at Ardmore. Over the past decade, the organization has proudly supported countless students in realizing their aspirations of becoming pilots, contributing significantly to the aviation community.

Source: Southern Wings
Photo Credit: Southern Wings

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Flight School Management Software Aviatize Selected by UK Based Flight Training London

Aviatize, a provider of flight school management solutions, has announced the addition of Flight Training London to its growing family of flight schools. This partnership is a significant step towards:

  • Enhancing student follow-up
  • Workflow efficiency
  • Compliance
  • Overall ease of use for the flight school

With Aviatize’s innovative platform, Flight Training London is poised to revolutionize its operational capabilities, providing a superior training experience for students and instructors alike.

Source: Aviatize
Photo Credit: Aviatize

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Airline Offers Conditional Employment to 20 Cadet Pilots Including from Leading Edge Aviation Through Tagging Scheme

Wizz Air, Europe’s most sustainable airline globally, announced last week that it has given 20 cadet pilots conditional offers of employment through the completion of its tagging scheme.

Pilot cadets from two UK flight training academies – Leading Edge Aviation Academy being one of them – were given their conditional offer of employment at a ceremony in London’s West End.

Wizz Air has adopted a “tagging” scheme, which involves reviewing a cadet pilot’s progress during theoretical examinations, followed by a testing and interview process conducted by the airline’s UK pilot recruitment lead. Once a pilot is “tagged”, they are given a conditional offer of employment with the airline, subject to the pilot achieving their performance milestones during training. Wizz Air also offers mentoring support from Wizz Air UK-qualified First Officers for UK trainee pilots. 

Wizz Air is committed to investing in new talent. The tagging scheme will support Wizz Air’s ambitious growth plans as it looks to expand its routes and meet its target of operating 500 aircraft by 2030, connecting people to even more cultures.  

Speaking at the ceremony Wizz Air’s Head of Operations and Accountable Manager, Captain Phil Cullen, remarked:

“By tagging cadets early on in their career, it takes away some of the uncertainty in their search for employment at the end of their flight training. These 20 cadets have demonstrated dedication, commitment and great potential. Wizz Air recognises these efforts and we are beyond pleased to offer these talented individuals the opportunity to start their career with us. Wizz Air offers career progression for all pilots to Captain level, so we look forward to seeing these cadet pilots flourish with us.”

Andy McFarlane, CEO of Leading Edge Aviation, stated that:

“Partnering with Wizz Air for this tagging scheme is a fantastic opportunity for our students that speaks volumes about our ‘Whole Pilot’ approach. At Leading Edge, we do more than teach students to fly; we prepare them with all the skills needed to become successful pilots and future captains. This ethos perfectly complements the dedication, positivity and integrity of Wizz Air, and we are thrilled to contribute to shaping the aviation leaders of tomorrow.”

The airline recently announced it will be the first ultra low-cost carrier to operate the Airbus A321XLR aircraft, and will be operating from March 2025 connecting London Gatwick to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

Source: Leading Edge Aviation
Photo Credit: Leading Edge Aviation

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US Aviation Training Group, Epic Flight Academy, Receives Top Workplace 2024 Recognition by Orlando Sentinel

New Smyrna Beach, Florida – On Friday, September 27th, the Orlando Sentinel named Epic Flight Academy a Top Workplace 2024 for the third year in a row.

“This means a lot to us,” said Epic founder and CEO Danny Perna, “because the selection is based solely on employee feedback. With more than 200 employees serving hundreds of flight and aircraft mechanic students each month, Epic is a busy place. We are grateful to our staff for always putting the safety and well-being of our students first. This award really belongs to them.”

COO Josh Rawlins added, “When our students graduate and share their experiences during their exit interviews, they always mention our instructors and staff. Personally, I’ve been at Epic for more than 20 years, and I have to agree that it really is a ‘top workplace’.”

According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Employers earn Top Workplaces recognition if their aggregated employees feedback score exceeds national benchmarks. Employers are grouped into similar sizes to best compare similar employee experiences.”

About Epic Flight Academy
Epic Flight Academy is an FAA-approved aviation school in its 25th year of operation. Epic has trained thousands of students from more than 100 countries, training both pilots and aircraft mechanics.

Source: Epic Flight Academy
Photo Credit: Epic Flight Academy

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Elixir Aircraft Signs a Contract with Leading Edge Aviation to Operate 5 Aircraft Financed by Green Aerolease

France headquartered training aircraft manufacturer Elixir Aircraft has announced that it has signed a contract for the operation of five Elixir by Leading Edge Aviation, a flight training group based in the UK and Spain, which has confirmed its intention to renew its fleet with Elixir Aircraft. This tripartite contract has also been signed with Green Aerolease, a French aircraft rental company. Leading Edge is thus the launch customer for Elixir Aircraft’s and Green Aerolease new rental offer.

Five Elixir for the Leading Edge Aviation’s fleet

Leading Edge Aviation, one of Europe’s leading flight schools, has chosen Elixir Aircraft to renew its fleet of 21 aircraft. Elixir Aircraft will supply Leading Edge Aviation with five Elixir aircraft equipped to the highest avionics standards, starting at the end of 2024.

Andy McFarlane, CEO of Leading Edge Aviation, said, “We are thrilled to be adding Elixir Aircraft to our fleet, marking a significant step in advancing our training capabilities. After extensive market research, we found that the Elixir offers unparalleled safety, economy, and environmental credentials, making it the ideal choice for our single-engine aircraft needs.”

He continued, “As the safest aircraft in its class, specifically designed for flight training, it aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing the best possible training environment. With its exceptional green credentials, including paying a net-zero levy for every hour flown, we are proud to offer a sustainable solution to our students at our Alhama base in Murcia. This is just the beginning, with a further five aircraft on order and options for more, ensuring we continue to lead in aviation training excellence.”

“When we met the Leading Edge team, we immediately agreed on common objectives. They wanted to offer a new aircraft to their students, guaranteeing them great performance while maximising operational efficiency and ensuring the highest levels of safety. We are very happy to have Leading Edge as part of the Elixir Aircraft family,” commented Emmanuel Gil, European Sales Manager of Elixir Aircraft.

This firm order brings Elixir Aircraft’s order book to more than 300 aircraft, including orders, pre-orders and letters of intent.

Launch of a rental offer in partnership with Green Aerolease

Following the example of commercial aviation, where airlines frequently purchase their aircraft from lessors (aircraft renting companies that buy batches of aircraft from manufacturers), Elixir Aircraft wanted to offer its customers flexibility.

The aircraft manufacturer approached Green Aerolease, a key player in low-carbon aircraft rental in Europe. Together, they built an offer that provides customers with a new financing capacity.

This brand new offer facilitated the deal with Leading Edge Aviation, the launch customer for a product that allows professional schools interested in the Elixir to acquire their aircraft through an “all included” rental service (aircraft itself, insurance and maintenance).

“Including the Elixir in our rental offer is a key step for us, as it allows us to support flight schools interested in this innovative aircraft,” said Guillaume Abéguilé, COO of Green Aerolease. “It also reinforces our commitment to driving the environmental transition in aviation by offering a new generation of aircraft with full CO2 compensation as part of our service. We are proud to collaborate with Elixir Aircraft to help Leading Edge meet their fleet renewal goals with greener, more sustainable aircraft.“

About Elixir Aircraft
Elixir Aircraft is a French aircraft manufacturer founded in 2015 to meet the challenges of global light aviation. Based in La Rochelle, it has over 150 employees and is recruiting massively. Elixir Aircraft designed and has been building a 4th-generation two-seater aircraft, certified EASA CS-23 since 2020. Elixir Aircraft uses technology from the world of competitive sailing, the “Carbon Oneshot” (in one piece), to simplify structures. More simplicity means fewer failures, so greater safety, but also less maintenance, and lower costs (estimates of savings of $50/h fuel and maintenance). At the end of 2021, Elixir Aircraft opened a new production site in Périgny, Charente Maritime, to bring production of all carbon parts in-house.

There are 27 Elixir aircraft currently in operation, with over 300 of the 4th-generation Elixir aircraft on the order book (firm orders, pre-orders and letters of intent). In June 2023, the French President announced a 13-million euro subsidy for Elixir Aircraft. In early 2024, Elixir Aircraft announced the closing of its development financing for the next 5 years, with a budget of 40 million euros. Elixir Aircraft is preparing to open a new 15,000 m2 facility in La Rochelle and another in Sarasota, Florida.

About Leading Edge Aviation
Leading Edge Aviation is a rapidly expanding pilot training academy with a fresh approach and an emphasis on holistic training. Offering the highest standards of regulatory technical training, students also benefit from a comprehensive professional and personal development curriculum to enhance non-technical skills.

Based at London Oxford Airport and Alhama, Southern Spain with a commitment to holistic pilot development, the Leading Edge Aviation offers a range of modular and integrated training programmes, including the innovative LEAP (Leading Edge Airline Preparation) course; a full-time integrated course with BSc degree (UK only) and a comprehensive graduate airline selection preparation workshop. Facilities at both locations support a comprehensive educational experience, combining modern aircraft and simulators, advanced learning technologies, and a vibrant student living environment.

Leading Edge also delivers modular training (including Ground School, MECPL, CBIR, MEIR, uMAP (university Modular Airline Preparation), A-UPRT (Advanced Upset Prevention Recovery Training), APC MCC (Airline Pilot Standards Multi Crew Co-operation) at its UK base in Oxford.

About Green Aerolease
Green Aerolease is a subsidiary of the W3 Group that provides turnkey rental solutions for decarbonized light aircraft to operators in the aviation industry (aero clubs, flight schools, airlines, etc.). The company’s ambition is to accelerate the environmental transition of aviation in France and Europe by offering a completely unique rental service in the green aviation sector.

Source: Leading Edge Aviation
Photo Credit: Leading Edge Aviation

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Global Pilot Training Solution Provider, CAE, Awarded 25 Year Contract from SkyAlyne to Support Canada’s Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program

Montreal, Canada – CAE announced that it has signed a 25-year sub-contract valued at approximately $1.7 billion from SkyAlyne, a joint venture between CAE and KF Aerospace, to provide the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) with modern, state-of-the-art pilot training.

As a major subcontractor to the Future Air Crew Training (FAcT) program, CAE will deliver over the course of the contract term comprehensive aircrew training including live flying, simulation, and ground school training. This will extend CAE’s long-standing presence at 15 Wing Moose Jaw where CAE currently operates the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program.

As part of this sub-contract, CAE will initially develop and deliver a range of simulators and training devices to be installed in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and at Southport, Manitoba for the various aircraft fleets being procured for the RCAF under the FAcT program. These training devices are expected to be delivered over the next 5 years.

In addition to this initial approximately $1.7 billion sub-contract, CAE is also expected to sign a follow-on order in the near term involving sustainment-related in-service support services.

“The FAcT program launches a new era in Canadian military aircrew training, and CAE is proud to be delivering advanced products and services that will enable the most extensive training system recapitalization ever undertaken by the RCAF,” said Marc Parent, CAE’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “For more than 75 years, CAE has put the readiness and safety of military pilots and service members at the forefront of its training and simulation development. With FAcT, our priority will be to ensure the RCAF has the depth and the technical advantage it needs to support the mission readiness of Canada’s next generation of military personnel.”

SkyAlyne unites leading Canadian defence and aviation companies, CAE and KF Aerospace, in a joint venture designed to provide the RCAF with turnkey training operations delivered by a single provider. The partnership combines the expertise of both organizations’ highly successful and longstanding RCAF pilot training programs, while expanding training capabilities for Air Combat System Officers (ACSO) and Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators (AES Op) under an innovative and cost-effective single schoolhouse model for aircrew training.

“As the world we live in continues to change and evolve, the RCAF needs the most capable and well-trained aircrew that can excel in challenging and dynamic global environments. Together with partners like CAE, SkyAlyne is providing the RCAF with a world-leading training system that will set a new standard,” explained Kevin Lemke, General Manager of SkyAlyne. “The team supporting SkyAlyne includes leaders from coast-to-coast-to-coast and the personnel at CAE are among the best of the best. CAE’s contributions to the FAcT program will be immense.”

For nearly a quarter of a century, CAE has provided best-in-class pilot training trusted by the RCAF at 15 Wing Moose Jaw as part of the NFTC program. CAE is proud to continue this legacy of excellence and to participate in the overall delivery of the transformative FAcT program as Canada’s premiere military training partner.

About CAE
At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying software-based simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, airlines, business aviation operators, and defence and security forces to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we’re everywhere customers need us to be with approximately 13,000 employees in more than 240 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents more than 75 years of industry firsts—the highest-fidelity flight and mission simulators as well as training programs powered by digital technologies. We embed sustainability in everything we do. Today and tomorrow, we’ll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter.

About SkyAlyne: The Future of Aircrew Training
SkyAlyne is the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program provider for the Royal Canadian Air Force. SkyAlyne is a team of defence, training, simulation, and aviation industry experts assembled from across Canada, working to prepare the next generation of RCAF pilots and aircrew. SkyAlyne was formed in 2018 as a partnership between CAE and KF Aerospace, two Canadian aviation, training, and defence leaders. The partnership was built to jointly answer the call for the Government of Canada’s FAcT program. In 2023 SkyAlyne was named the preferred bidder, and in 2024, was officially contracted to deliver the FAcT program.

About Future Aircrew Training (FAcT)
The Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) Program combines Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) pilot and aircrew training.

Source: CAE
Photo Credit: CAE

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AeroGuard Welcomes Its First Class of Air New Zealand Cadets Within the Mangōpare Pilot Cadetship

AeroGuard Flight Training Center is excited to welcome its first class of Cadets from the Mangōpare Air New Zealand Pilot Cadetship. Air New Zealand selected AeroGuard as its flight training provider early this year, establishing a significant partnership in which AeroGuard will train and prepare the premier airline’s pilots.

Within this partnership, Air New Zealand Cadets will join other airline cadets at AeroGuard’s Phoenix, Arizona, USA campus where they will complete their ab initio flight training and experience AeroGuard’s high-quality and carefully structured curriculum. AeroGuard will professionally train the Cadets from start to finish, establishing experienced and confident pilots ready to start their careers.

Together with Ansett Aviation Training, AeroGuard is providing Air New Zealand with an end-to-end solution for their cadet training programs. Starting from the recruitment phase, continuing through ab initio training, simulator training, and Type Rating, this approach will provide Air New Zealand with a comprehensive solution to train skilled pilots prepared for the excitement and challenges of airline operations.

AeroGuard’s CEO, Joel Davidson, shared “AeroGuard is pleased to partner with Air New Zealand and Ansett to offer our professionally focused beginning-to-end flight training. We are excited to welcome this first class of Cadets and provide them with our comprehensive training program, preparing them for successful careers from start to finish. This integrated training program will shape the next generation of pilots for leading airlines like Air New Zealand.”

With AeroGuard’s extensive capacity, expanding training resources, large instructor pipeline, and growing fleet, the school stands out as the leading provider in global pilot training. AeroGuard will provide Air New Zealand with the highly skilled pilots they require while offering aspiring pilots in New Zealand a direct and seamless pathway to become fully airline-ready professionals and represent their heritage as they inspire others to do the same.

About AeroGuard Flight Training Center
AeroGuard Flight Training Center is a global leader in ab initio flight training with three U.S. campuses that offer accelerated commercial pilot training programs to candidates from all over the world. With a commitment to safety and student success, AeroGuard’s high quality training has established airline-ready cadets for over 25 years with more than one million flight hours of training experience and graduating over 7,000 cadets.

Source: AeroGuard Flight Training Center
Photo Credit: AeroGuard Flight Training Center

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Czech Flight Training Group Lists 2 Aircraft for Sale with Immediate Delivery in 2024

Benešov, Czech Republic – F AIR, a flight training group, is offering two TECNAM aircraft for sale. Both models come with newly overhauled engines and are available for immediate delivery. This sale provides an opportunity for buyers to acquire well-maintained aircraft equipped with modern avionics.

  • Aircraft for sale: TECNAM P2006T OK-MEP and TECNAM P2008JC OK-IAF.
  • TECNAM P2006T G950 OK-MEP specifics: (see first image below)
    • Year of production: 2010
    • Total flight hours: 5890 hours
    • Engines and propellers: New engines and propellers (only 106 hours)
    • Avionics: Garmin G950, S-TEC 55X autopilot
    • Price: 295.000 EUR (+ DPH / VAT)
    • Delivery: Immediate availability
  • TECNAM P2008JC VFR NIGHT OK-IAF specifics: (see second image below)
    • Year of production: 2014
    • Total flight hours: 6,502 hours
    • Engines and propellers: 0 hours (new engine after overhaul)
    • Avionics: Garmin G3X dual screen
    • Price: 115,000 EUR (+ VAT)
    • Delivery: Immediate availability

Source: F AIR
Photo Credit: F AIR

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