Market Intelligence: -General Aviation

South African Flight School / Training Group announces partnership to expand into Air Traffic Service Training

DFS Aviation Services announces cooperation with the Test Flying Academy of South Africa with this partnership, DFS Aviation Services is entering and expanding its training expertise activities in Africa and the Far East.

As a step towards further expansion in the African market, Andreas Pötzsch, Managing Director of DFS Aviation Services and Jean Rossouw, Executive Chairman & President of Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) have signed a cooperation agreement. Both companies aim to cooperate on Air Traffic Service (ATS) training opportunities.

DAS is an EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) certified training provider for ATS training and already offers a variety of training in Europe and internationally. In order to do this, DAS established the DAS Aviation Academy (DAS A²) whose courses meet the regulatory requirements of the EU Regulation (2015/340) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

TFASA aspires to become one of the leading training suppliers in Africa and further afield for Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO), management and system training, and sees this agreement as a natural extension of its business profile.

DAS and TFASA will focus on clients from different states in Africa, MENA and the Far East. The training will take place at the TFASA site in South Africa and will also make use of the DAS online Learning Management System (LMS). The starting point for this collaboration will be AFIS training followed by the training of ATCOs.

Andreas Pötzsch, Managing Director of DAS, emphasises that “With this cooperation agreement we start bringing our training expertise to the African and Far Eastern markets. We believe that TFASA is a very qualified partner to serve these regions with ATCO, management and system training.” Jean Rossouw, Executive Chairman & President of TFASA agrees: “TFASA is very proud and happy to now supplement our core training business – ranging from test pilot & FTE training, commercial & operational pilot training and specialist training elements – with the world class Air Traffic Control training that DAS is bringing to the table. The DAS products will certainly appeal to our huge customer base and enhance the scope of training on offer.”

 

Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA) was created in 2003 as a South African company. The TFASA Group benefits from being commercially independent and politically neutral, which enable us to provide our customers’ workforce with tailored solutions to meet their needs. Our capabilities include comprehensive aircraft and systems testing, evaluation and certification as well as specialist consultancy services, high-quality training, support, development and operational solutions across a multitude of aviation disciplines.

TFASA provides a wide spectrum of customer-tailored training courses ranging from Class 1 graduate courses for test pilots and flight test engineers, commercial pilot training for airline cadets, to advanced operational and tactical training. As an approved Maintenance and Design Organisation, TFASA also offers maintenance and modification of type-certified and non-type-certified aircraft (including ex-military platforms). TFASA is also the seller and distributor of select aircraft.

As the go-to provider of specialist flight testing and aviation training solutions for progressive nations across the world, TFASA has a core team of the very best in their fields – pilots, test pilots, engineers, instructors, strategists and support staff – and we retain the services of highly-qualified consulting personnel so that we can flex to meet our clients’ specific requirements. We are truly independent, with access to all the fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, ground equipment, instructors, specialists and support operations we need to deliver the broadest range of services.

 

DFS Aviation Services GmbH (DAS) is a subsidiary of DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH and employs more than 400 people around the world. As a certified ATM provider, DAS controls air traffic at German small and medium-sized airports and sells products and services related to Air Traffic Control around the world. Its customers include ATM organisations, airports, airlines and aviation authorities all over the world.

Through its subsidiary, Air Navigation Solutions Ltd. (ANSL), DAS is also responsible for air traffic at Edinburgh and London-Gatwick. The subsidiary DFS Aviation Services Bahrain Co WLL provides support in the Middle East in the areas of air traffic control and air traffic control technology. In Asia, DFS Aviation Services has a representative office in Beijing and a branch office in Singapore. Through its joint venture with Frequentis AG of Vienna, Frequentis DFS Aerosense GmbH, DAS also sells Remote Tower solutions worldwide.

For more information, kindly contact TFASA.

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“Pilots – 500% More High Risk Reports During COVID” – APS

Watch a clip from this week’s LinkedIn Live event with APS VP Clarke ‘Otter’ McNeace and Capt. David Carbaugh, Retired Boeing Chief Pilot Technical and Safety for Test and Evaluation and Co-chair of the Upset Recovery Training Aid.

There has been a deeply concerning increase in COVID ASRS reports on high risk flight conditions that will plague the industry for many years.

For more information, kindly contact APS – Aviation Performance Solutions.

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US FAA and United Kingdom CAA Strengthen Collaboration on Flight Simulator regulations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) finalized an agreement that will allow the two countries to share each other’s evaluation and acceptance of flight simulators. The agreement will reduce the regulatory burden on business while maintaining aviation safety.

The terms and conditions, which update the 2005 Simulator Implementation Procedures (SIP) agreement, are the result of a yearlong effort to continue mutual cooperation and technical assistance in evaluating, accepting, and setting qualification standards for each other’s flight simulator systems. The UK’s departure from the European Union and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) prompted the recent update of the SIP. By leveraging FAA and CAA resources, both agencies will be able to allocate resources to higher safety-risk areas, and ensure continued efficiencies.

The FAA reopened its office at the U.S. Embassy in London to support cooperation and technical assistance between the two countries following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union and CAA’s separation from EASA.

Source: FAA Press Release

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FlightSafety International announces Simulator support for the Ohio Air & Space Hall of Fame and Learning Center

Two international leaders in flight – Ohio-based companies NetJets and FlightSafety International (FSI) – jointly announced on 10 January a six-figure commitment to the non-profit Ohio Air & Space Hall of Fame and Learning Center (OAS) through an investment totaling $225,000. This is the first investment of its type.

OAS is in the middle of a multi-phase, multi-million dollar fundraising campaign to renovate the original Port Columbus air terminal and tower into its home. The joint gift from NetJets and FSI will be used to unlock $550,000 with a state matching grant, allowing OAS to begin construction on phase one of its plan. The 12,000-square-foot, three-story structure, dedicated in 1929 and on the National Register of Historic Places, is located on the southeast corner of what is now John Glenn International Airport (CMH).

When completed, OAS will recognize NetJets as the presenter of its “Founders Walk,” a series of exterior public displays heralding the original terminal’s historic significance and recognizing the key local and national leaders responsible for its creation. NetJets, the world’s largest private jet company, was founded at CMH in 1964 as Executive Jet Aviation (EJA) and originally headquartered in Port Columbus Hangar One, located several hundred feet from the original terminal. EJA co-founder, the late Air Force Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets, Jr., will ultimately be among the individuals honored at OAS.

FSI, the world’s premier professional aviation training company and supplier of flight simulators, will be recognized as the named presenter of two flight simulator stations planned for OAS, with each station featuring a pair of simulators. One station will be available to the public among the first-floor OAS exhibits and displays featuring air and space pioneers from the state of Ohio. The second station will serve the aviation-themed Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (AvSTEAM) youth learning center housed on the second floor of the OAS. As part of its support, FSI will further assist OAS in the selection and operation of the simulators.

The Ohio Air & Space Hall of Fame and Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission of highlighting the state’s men and women pioneers of flight, using their colorful legacies to help develop the skilled workforce and inspire the future innovation essential to keeping Ohio a leader in technology and aerospace.

The phase one goal of the OAS capital campaign is to commence renovation of the terminal in 2022. Upon completion, phase two will follow, raising additional funds to fully complete the project and OAS staffing, operations, and programming needs.

OAS Executive Director Ron Kaplan said, “On behalf of our Board of Trustees and our many donors and partners providing early support to this worthy project, I thank global industry leaders NetJets and FlightSafety International for their robust commitment to our vital mission. We look forward to working closely with them to educate the aviation leaders of the future and ensure Ohio’s dominance in the world of aviation and aerospace.”

“We appreciate the opportunity to invest in the Ohio Air & Space organization and hopefully help inspire the next generation of leaders in aviation—right here in our hometown,” said Adam Johnson, NetJets, Chairman and CEO.

“We are particularly excited about helping OAS with the flight simulators that will be in their AvSTEAM youth learning center,” said Brad Thress, President and CEO of FlightSafety International. With education and continuous learning always top of mind at FSI, we are thrilled to be a part of this exciting endeavor.”

Source: FlightSafety International Press Release

For more information, kindly contact FlightSafety International.

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United Airlines CEO: “The Truth about the Pilot Shortage”

The CEO of US Airlines – United Airlines – has issued the below statement in line with the opening of the airlines own Flight School – United Aviate Academy in Arizona, US.

“It’s important to address some of the myths that surround the worldwide pilot crisis. First, the shortage in pilots predates COVID-19 and our vaccine requirement – we identified this problem and started working towards solutions years ago. Second, the pilot shortage is not driven by pay or benefits. United widebody captains make over $350,000 a year with incredible benefits like an industry-leading 401(k) match rate of up to 16%. It is, frankly, one of the most lucrative jobs in aviation. Lastly, the pilot shortage is not the result of any mass exodus of workers – there is an FAA-mandated retirement age of 65 for commercial airline pilots.

At United, we’re convinced that the root of the problem is that it costs over $100,000 and takes five or more years to obtain all the training to become eligible to fly for a major airline. A commercial pilot’s journey is technically complex, building hours and obtaining certificates in a process that is difficult to navigate without experienced support. On top of that, major airlines traditionally didn’t need to recruit and instead relied primarily on the military and people who were passionate about aviation to get training and certification on their own. Because it’s always been expensive, most new pilots tend to come from aviation families which means if a man is a pilot, there’s a good chance that his son becomes a pilot, but the chances are far smaller for kids in other circumstances or even his daughter. One of the unintended consequences of that is a real gender and racial disparity amongst pilots – only 19.6% of United’s pilots are women or people of color and that unfortunately makes us a leader amongst peers.

It’s estimated that by 2025, there will be 34,000 fewer pilots than airlines need worldwide. At United, we plan to hire 10,000 new pilots through 2030, and we recognize that it will be tough. That’s why we became the only major U.S. airline to own and operate its own flight training school. Today, the doors officially opened at United Aviate Academy in Goodyear, Arizona.

With a state-of-the-art training facility, we’re focusing on fundamentally changing how people can access the path to become commercial airline pilots – and who’s included in the conversation.

This makes the solution simple: to increase the number of qualified pilots, we have to increase the number of students enrolling in flight school. To do this, we need to enroll students who previously might not have considered this a viable career: primarily women and people of color. We also need to make it more economically realistic and provide expert support for those who take on the challenge.

But as important as increasing the supply, at United, we’re also committed to increasing the quality of training. All of my United States Air Force Academy classmates who went to pilot training after graduation didn’t just learn to fly – they got training in dealing with the unexpected: stalls, aerobatics and more. Non-military pilots get very little of that training. We’re changing that by partnering with worldwide leaders in upset recovery and providing our students with in-aircraft exposure to extreme flight situations where they develop real loss-of-control recovery skills. As with all pilots, we continue advanced skills development when they get to United with robust simulator training. The U.S. aviation system is incredibly safe, but we believe that giving new pilots opportunities to develop and hone these skills early in their career is the next step forward in training the best pilots in the world.

That’s why United Aviate Academy will change the entire course of becoming a pilot. As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, we can directly impact the affordability, quality of training and recruiting efforts for the very first stage of this career and add more qualified, capable candidates to the hiring pool.

There are concrete, purposeful actions we’re taking through United Aviate Academy to accomplish all that. First, we partnered with JP Morgan Chase to fund $2.4M in scholarships to qualified students in 2021 and have committed to renew the partnership this year. The school also partners with nonprofits and organizations that help build interest in pilot careers among underrepresented communities and help identify top talent to award scholarships. Some of these groups include:

  • Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals
  • Sisters of the Skies
  • The Latino Pilots Association
  • The Professional Asian Pilots Association

United has the best pilots in the business, and we must ensure that future crews are upheld to the same high level of excellence. That’s why United Aviate Academy’s year-long program makes use of state-of-the-art equipment and modern curriculums. Students will learn to fly on Cirrus SR-20 series single-engine aircraft with Garmin flight instruments, and classroom materials are sourced from Jeppesen, a Boeing-owned company, so that students are prepared with professional tools and courses. The school features large hangars, onsite dormitories, and recreational facilities so students can live and learn together.

And, lastly, there’s the continuing education and growth that United Aviate Academy provides. Students will have mentors to help them through the long process of learning how to fly, all from United’s own pilot ranks. The inspirational expertise and relatable experiences these individuals bring to the program are invaluable. But after graduation, there’s still plenty of work to do before a pilot is qualified enough for United’s flight decks. Cadets can continue to build hours of flying experience and education through Aviate’s network of partner universities, flight training institutions, part 135 partners and our United Express regional partners.

With all of this in place, graduates of United Aviate Academy are poised to become successful in joining the elite ranks of professional pilots that carry our passengers safely across the globe. By removing deep-seated barriers, we’re simply increasing the number of people who have access to this career path. I’m proud that our first class reflects this goal with 80% of the accepted students being women or people of color.

Through 2030, we plan to see nearly 5,000 aspiring pilots walk through the doors of United Aviate Academy and I couldn’t be more excited to see every single one of their careers take off.”

Source: Article written by Scott Kirby, United Airlines CEO

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FEAM Maintenance Partners with Epic Flight Academy’s Aircraft Mechanic Program

Epic Flight Academy is proud to announce its partnership with FEAM Maintenance / Engineering. Together, they are offering an aircraft mechanic program that provides a direct pathway to employment and tuition assistance. The program launches in February 2022 and is the first of its kind to offer financial assistance while in training.

The program is designed to help support students financially and provide a path to a successful aviation career. Students who enroll into the program will be provided tuition assistance while in school. FEAM is the MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) leader in the United States and Europe with 30 years in business and more than 1,000 employees at 31 locations. They offer advanced aircraft repair capabilities, a wide line station network, and vast approvals for all current and next-generation aircraft, including B787 and A350 aircraft.

Students accepted into the program will first interview with FEAM and receive a conditional letter of hire. FEAM will provide tuition assistance. Students will also have the opportunity to work as an apprentice at the FEAM Miami location where they will get firsthand experience with Boeing and Airbus aircraft.

Epic CEO Danny Perna said, “We are extremely excited about this partnership with FEAM. They have been supporting airline cargo companies for 30 years and offer multiple locations for students to choose from. Our aircraft mechanic students will receive tremendous support in this program. FEAM provides experience on a wide range of heavy aircraft. This type of experience opens so many doors faster because students are working on such wide range of aircraft at an early stage.”

Students accepted into the Epic-FEAM Program will be provided $7,500 in financial assistance the first year and an additional $7,500 the second year and have the opportunity to work with FEAM for 3 years and longer if desired.

Aircraft mechanic classes start at Epic three times per year. The program runs for 24 months. Students need to apply a minimum of one month in advance to secure their spot. They will be interviewed by both Epic and FEAM prior to being accepted. FEAM emphasizes the importance of time spent working in one of their facilities, which allows students to gain real world experience and knowledge to help them excel.

FEAM COO Dan Allawat said, “We are excited to work with Epic Flight Academy. They demonstrate the high level of professionalism and quality of training FEAM is looking for. Our growth plan to support the field of aviation requires hundreds of highly skilled mechanics. The program we are offering through Epic will allow aspiring mechanics to enter the aviation field and help the industry grow.”

Source: Epic Flight Academy Press Release

For more information, kindly contact Epic Flight Academy.

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