Market Intelligence: -General Aviation

Pilot Union Sues Airline Over Shortage of Training Pilots

American Airlines – Allied Pilots Association – has sued the airline in a US Federal Court over a shortage of Instructor Pilots. The airline is currently using ‘rank-and-file’ pilots to fill in during training.

The Allied Pilots Association said the recent move use pilots as partners during training simulations “degrades the training experience and risks long-term damage to the airline’s safety culture.”

“Having failed to plan properly for the recovery in air travel demand, American Airlines management now finds itself having to deal with the consequences of being the only major airline to have furloughed pilots during the pandemic,” said Allied Pilots Association President Eric Ferguson in a statement.

“Management was clearly ill-prepared for the rebound in airline traffic and has been selling tickets for flights the airline may be unable to operate due to a shortage of properly qualified pilots, despite management’s recent assurances to the contrary,” he said.

“This program is designed to give line pilots the opportunity to support the flight training simulator program, which is good for our pilots and provides even more training capacity to support continued growth,” American Airlines spokeswoman Shannon Gilson said. “The pilots volunteering are highly qualified and experienced, and are responsible for the safety of our customers and fellow crew members every day.”

The legal proceedings started following American Airlines allowing ‘rank and file pilots’ be ‘seat fillers’ after a single day of training.

That practice could compromise training, said Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association.

“You need a trained professional in there who knows what they should do and what they shouldn’t do so it’s a pure evaluation,” Tajer said. “They are only asking for one day of training and it takes three to six months to train a check airman.”

American Airlines said it hired and trained more than 575 pilots in 2021 and another 600 so far this year, according to a letter the company sent to pilots and check airmen Wednesday. It’s now training new pilots at a pace of 50 to 70 a week with hopes to get about 2,000 new pilots on board this year.

Source: The Dallas Morning News

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US University Receives $30,000 from Airline for Aviation Program Flight Simulator

A team from Republic Airways visited Delaware State University on March 16, bringing a $30,000 gift for it Aviation Program.

Funds will be used for mobile flight simulators and to offset fees and book costs for students, said Lt. Col. (ret) Michael Hales, director of the aviation program. “This helps us make it easier for us to get students to a place where the airlines can hire them,” he said.

Col. Hales said the mobile simulators would be used by students, as well as taken to events and shows that he attends to recruit for the Aviation Program.

More than 20 Delaware State aviation graduates are currently pilots at the regional airlines based in Indianapolis, Ind., said Darrell Morton, Senior Manager of Educational Programs for Republic.

“In an industry dominated by white males, what we want to do is demonstrate that there is a way into this industry and inspire the next generation of pilots,” he said. “We have had a lot of success in getting pilots from Delaware State, so it’s natural to continue to strengthen the partnership.”

Hales said Republic and other regional airlines try to attract graduates and word of mouth among students has led to the high number of graduates going to Republic.

Recent Delaware State graduates Maurice Ellis and Jay Shah, now pilots for Republic attended the check presentation event, held at the Delaware Airpark where the University’s Aviation Program is based. Both of them said they like to keep track of progress of students at their alma mater and come back to speak with them about working as a pilot.

Source: Delaware State University Press Release

For more information, kindly contact Delaware State University.

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US High School Purchases Flight Simulator for Students to Learn to Fly

North Augusta High School received its first flight simulator that will allows students to explore the field of flying.

“Mr. Travis Spears [North Augusta HS Aviation Teacher] raised donations to get a state of the art flight simulator for our aviation students! What a great opportunity for them to get some flying time without having to rent a plane,” said North Augusta HS on Twitter.

For more information, kindly contact Beman Middle School.

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Flight Simulators Donated to Five US High Schools

Because of a generous donation from the Corporate Aircraft Association, five Oklahoma high schools will receive a flight simulator to be used to enhance the classroom implementation of the AOPA “You Can Fly” High School Aviation Curriculum.

Each of the five schools, Durant, Alva, Bartlesville, Duncan, and Lawton, was selected by the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission as a recipient of the gift because of their willingness to serve as leaders in the building of high-quality aviation programs in their regions of Oklahoma.

The Corporate Aircraft Association (CAA), is a member-funded association that partners with select Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) at airports throughout the US and Canada, to offer jet fuel programs and other aircraft services to their members. Their leadership selected Oklahoma for this donation because of positive interactions they had at airports within the Oklahoma Airport System. They worked with the Commission to determine the most effective way to benefit students interested in aviation.

“We appreciate the Corporate Aircraft Association’s gift to Oklahoma schools,” stated State Director of Aeronautics, Grayson Ardies. “By providing flight simulators, CAA will help school districts implement the “You Can Fly” curriculum with fidelity and will ensure that Oklahoma continues to lead the way in equipping students to enter the aviation industry.”

“CAA’s mission is to support and to preserve corporate and general aviation. I can’t think of a better way to reach so many students. We hope these simulators help inspire an entire generation to consider a career in aviation,” said Bob Bordes, president of CAA.

The designated high schools are just five of the nearly 30 Oklahoma schools that are teaching the “You Can Fly” curriculum during the 2021-2022 school year. Developed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the free program offers schools the opportunity to teach two aviation pathways of curriculum to students in Grades 9-12 and prepare them for a career in aviation.

Source: Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission Press Release

For more information, kindly contact OAC.

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Helicopter Training School of Indian Air Force Celebrates Diamond Jubilee

The Helicopter Training School of the Indian Air Force celebrated its diamond jubilee at Hakimpet Air Force Station where aerial displays were conducted.

Indian Air Force, via Twitter, shared the following during the special ocassion:

“On the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of Chetak helicopter, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari released a special first day cover along with a coffee table book highlighting the journey of the helicopter over the past six decades.

“To commemorate Chetak helicopter completing 60 years of glorious service to the Nation, Helicopter Training School has organised a conclave on 02 Apr 22 at the National Industrial Security Academy Convention Centre, Secunderabad.”

“A synchronised flypast was carried out by the Suryakiran and Sarang Aerobatic teams, Light Combat Helicopter & Chetak helicopters.”

Source: Indian Air Force via Twitter

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UK Pilot Training Organisation Announces Partnership To Encourage Diversity In Aviation

FTA Global, the school that delivers elite flight training for professional pilots, today announces a new partnership with Fantasy Wings, the programme that gives Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and Women a platform to enter and excel in the Aviation industry or become commercial airline pilots.

Aimed to make pilot training more accessible to those who are underrepresented in the aviation community, FTA Flight school has taken proactive steps to address career development and financial barriers to study by committing to the following benefits offered through their Pilot training and Flight Instructor Ratings.

Key measures include publicising relevant FTA global positions to all existing and Alumni Fantasy Wings participants; developing access to employment opportunities and job interviews and offering of one bursary per year to one Fantasy Wings participant for £10,000 off a Dual Licence integrated ATPL Course at FTA. This will be known as the ‘FTA Fantasy Wings Bursary’

Financial benefits to address barriers to cost further include:

  • Reduction to all Fantasy Wings participants past, present and future from the list price of any course or package at FTA
  • FTA Discounts off the Flight Instructor Course to develop employment opportunities not only at FTA but with other training facilities. It’s not just a case of having more underrepresented pilots, it is also about having more underrepresented instructors, instructing underrepresented pilots.

 

Sean Jacob, Managing Director, FTA says “We are a flight school open to all, providing opportunities to students of all nationalities, from a variety of backgrounds. We’re delighted to announce this exciting partnership with Fantasy Wings, which opens up even more opportunities for women and those in underrepresented communities to access more training and jobs in the commercial airline industry.”

Jackson Smith, Founder and Managing Director, Fantasy Wings, says “Our partnership with FTA is a key step in the right direction when it comes to addressing a number of important barriers to diversity within the Pilot / Aviation industry. Fantasy Wings was created to address the lack of diversity and inclusivity within the Airline Pilot / Aviation sector. We provide young people with crucial insight and knowledge development that allows them to go off and have successful and satisfying careers within the industry. It is great that through our partnership with FTA, our young people will have some of the financial restraints of training eased which is a key step forward in making the industry more diverse and representative. We look forward to this being a long and successful partnership between FTA and Fantasy Wings’

 

FTA will also announce a new product called ‘Integrated Lite’ at PCL, which will offer integrated students an option to refine their integrated training and the associated costs.

 Sean Jacob says: “Whilst we truly believe that the products offered in the Flight Deck Programme are of paramount importance for students wanting a career in airlines, there are a great many other pilot opportunities out there. This new product gives students the ability to design their course around their needs. Whilst our Flight Deck Programme includes every element of Commercial Pilot Training and is the jewel in the FTA crown, our Integrated Lite Programme offers a basic package of the same exceptional standard which will deliver MEP, MECPL, MEIR training, without modules that are more tailored to the Commercial Airline Pilot candidate.  At the end of their programme, our Integrated Lite students will have the option to specialise in different pathways including the Airline specific modules or Flight Instruction (both commercial and private) as well as using their Commercial licence as a pilot in other parts of the aviation industry.

About FTA Global

FTA Global is a welcoming, friendly and supportive training environment, with carefully designed courses that put the student at the heart of the training process. Courses are designed to minimise over runs, maximise student potential and employability and are continuously refined based on feedback. We offer more hours in the aeroplane and simulator than the regulated minimum, Dual Licencing is included in the course price for our Integrated and Multi Module students, giving graduates the best employment opportunities. Uniquely positioned on the south coast of the UK with easy access to busy, complex and European controlled airspace, the entirety of our flight and ground school instruction is delivered from our single site. Students are exposed to challenging conditions from the outset, making for better, more experienced pilots. We continually invest in our staff, facilities and fleet to ensure our students have an exceptional flight training experience and only partner with a few select and specialist aviation companies who understand and champion the highest airline pilot standards.

Source: FTA Global Press Release

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Global Pilot Training Organisation CEO Shares Thoughts On How Stringent Selection Will Help Prevent Pilot Shortage

Skyborne’s CEO Lee Woodward has shared his thoughts on why enhanced selection processes are critical when enrolling cadets for pilot training.

“The aim is to minimize additional training, reduce failure rates and provide airlines and business operators with better-trained pilots.”

You can read the full article here or at AviationWeek.

For more information, kindly contact Skyborne.

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