Market Intelligence: -General Aviation

US University Announces 2024 Appointment for Head of Aviation Department

In its mission to become a leading institution for aerospace and technology talent development, Kansas State University Salina has appointed Tysen Pina as the new department head of aviation.

As the department head, Pina will oversee the aviation program, focusing on expanding industry-relevant academic offerings, strengthening alumni and industry partnerships, enhancing safety management and strategically positioning the program for future success.

Having retired from the U.S. Air Force, Pina brings more than 21 years of aviation experience. His expertise spans program management, process improvement, strategic planning, aviation training and leadership. Pina plans to leverage K-State Salina’s rich aviation history of excellence and build upon the foundation that has already been laid over the past 33 years under the Kansas State University system and previously, with the campus leading in aviation training since the 1960s.

“My heart is in all things aviation, building organizations and pouring into people and making them better every day,” said Pina. “I knew that once my time in the Air Force was over, I knew I wanted to be in aviation. When I first met the K-State Salina faculty, their connection and excitement really shone through. This campus and the spirit that it has really motivated me.”

Additionally, as the aviation industry continues to see major transitions in its hiring practices, needs and criteria, K-State Salina is committing itself to supporting all learners through educational offerings that will set its students up to impact the industry.

“We are committed to providing quality education to all learners – whether they are looking for a certificate or associate, bachelor’s or a master’s degree,” said K-State Salina CEO and dean Alysia Starkey. “With Tysen’s focus on safety, excellence and mentorship, K-State Salina graduates will continue to be highly sought-after professionals, ready to excel in the ever-changing industry regardless of their career entry point.”

Pina holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master’s degree in business organization and leadership from the University of Kansas.

His distinguished Air Force career includes roles such as commander for the 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron with E-3G AWACS aircraft; director of operations for 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron with E-8C JSTARS aircraft, wing inspector general with the 116th Air Control Wing; regional engagement strategist for Air Force Central Command in Qatar; and assistant director of operations for the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base.

Pina has flown over 100 combat missions. After having moved more than 12 times for his career, he is ecstatic to be able to call Salina home for a long time.

Source: Kansas State University
Photo Credit: Kansas State University

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US Aviation Academy Partners with Frontier Airlines to Launch Transitioning Military Technician Pathway Program

Denton, Texas – June 24th, 2024 – US Aviation Academy (USAA), a premier aviation training institution, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with Frontier Airlines to introduce the “Transitioning Military Technician Pathway.” This innovative program is designed to support military veterans in transitioning to civilian careers within the aviation industry.

The Transitioning Military Technician Pathway Program aims to leverage the extensive technical skills and expertise of military veterans, providing them with specialized training and career opportunities in aircraft maintenance and technical roles at Frontier Airlines. This partnership underscores both organizations’ commitment to supporting veterans and enhancing the aviation industry’s workforce with skilled professionals.

Key Features of the A&P Mechanic Training Campus:

State-of-the-Art Facilities: Students will have access to classrooms and hangars equipped with the latest technology and aircraft models to facilitate real-world training experiences. Industry-Leading Curriculum: the curriculum will cover all aspects of airframe and powerplant mechanics, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of the aviation industry. Experienced Instructors: teaching staff will include veteran aviation professionals with years of experience both in the field and in education; providing students with insights into the practical aspects of aircraft maintenance.

Specialized Training Curriculum: US Aviation Academy will offer a tailored training curriculum that builds on the existing skills of military veterans. The program will cover essential areas such as aircraft maintenance and regulatory compliance, ensuring that participants are fully prepared for civilian aviation careers.

Employment Opportunities: Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have the opportunity to join Frontier Airlines as aircraft technicians. This direct pathway to employment ensures a seamless transition for veterans into the civilian workforce.

Mentorship and Support: Participants will benefit from ongoing mentorship and support from both USAA and Frontier Airlines. Experienced professionals will provide guidance, helping veterans navigate their new careers and excel in their roles.

Financial Assistance: To further support veterans, US Aviation Academy and Frontier Airlines will offer financial assistance to eligible participants, making the program accessible to a broader range of military personnel.

Frontier Airlines is equally enthusiastic about the collaboration. “We are thrilled to welcome veterans into the Frontier family through this innovative pathway program,” said Antonio Garcia, Director, Talent for Frontier Airlines. “Their skills, discipline, and work ethic align perfectly with our values, and we are proud to provide them with rewarding career opportunities in aviation.”

Community Impact: The campus will also contribute to local economies by creating job opportunities and fostering a skilled workforce within Frontier’s maintenance base locations of Phoenix, AZ, Denver, CO, Orlando, FL, and Las Vegas, NV.

Mike Sykes, Chief Executive Officer, US Aviation Academy, stated, “Joining forces with Frontier Airlines allows us to expand our mission of providing top-tier aviation education. Together, we’re excited to offer a unique pathway for individuals passionate about aviation maintenance to achieve their dreams.”

About Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines is an ultra-low cost carrier headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The company operates 148 A320 family aircraft and has the largest A320neo family fleet in the U.S. With approximately 200 new Airbus planes on order, Frontier will continue to grow to deliver on the mission of providing affordable travel across America.

About US Aviation Academy
US Aviation Group came under current ownership in 2006 and has grown from a hand full of Piper Warriors and a Seneca to one of the largest Part 141 flight academies in the country with over 130 aircraft at six locations. US Aviation’s growth is a product of professionalism, a commitment to safety, and excellence in training. These core values have made US Aviation Academy the choice flight training partners for colleges nationwide. In 2021 US Aviation launched its first Part 147 airframe and powerplant mechanic program which is rapidly expanding with three locations. New flight and mechanic campuses are coming soon. For more information, please visit USAviationAcademy.com.

Source: US Aviation Academy
Photo Credit: Frontier Airlines (shown as meta image)

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FAA and EASA Pledge Strong Cooperation to Address Aviation Challenges of the Next Decade

WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have pledged to work together to meet the challenges of a fast-changing and evolving aviation industry and the increasing speed of development of future technologies. Leaders from the FAA and EASA discussed the renewed commitment at the 2024 International Aviation Safety Conference.

“Our aim is to promote a cooperative and collective approach to aviation safety and modernization,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker. “As we look to the next decade, establishing a unified strategic direction based on information sharing and collaboration with our international partners will meet the needs of our global aviation system of the future.”

“The aviation industry is in the fastest period of change since commercial flights began. New technologies are urgently needed to make the industry more sustainable. Other innovations, for example in artificial intelligence, are emerging rapidly and we have a generational change in the workforce,” said Florian Guillermet, Executive Director of EASA. “It is more important than ever that international aviation regulators work together to accompany the changes and ensure safety needs are always met.”

Discussions in plenary sessions and side meetings at the three-day conference around on the theme “Building foundations: Preparing for the next decade together” reinforced that strong collaboration between regulators is essential to keep pace with this rapid evolution.

The FAA and EASA pledge to:

  • Prioritize enhancing cooperative efforts at all working levels between our organizations.
  • Strengthen the focus and information exchange on safety oversight to promote a strong safety culture.
  • Optimize our resources and fully leverage the US-EU Aviation Safety Agreement, encouraging our technical experts to work together and rely on one another to reduce duplication of effort, taking a risk-based approach.
  • Deepen proactive collaboration on certification activities and on operational frameworks for new and innovative technologies.
  • Expand and target cooperation on rulemaking efforts earlier in the development process.
  • Promote aviation sustainability, particularly activities on sustainable aviation fuel development and deployment.
  • Partner to ensure goals of the Bilateral Enhancement Roadmap on certification activities are realized.
  • Reinforce cooperation on the analysis and mitigation of systemic safety risks as well as innovation and future aviation technologies.
  • Facilitate exchange and information sharing on topical areas and emerging risks facing aviation safety, such as cyber, conflict zones and GPS/GNSS interference.

The FAA-EASA International Aviation Safety Conference brings together around 400 senior aviation professionals from regulators, manufacturers, airlines and associations from all over the world. The event is held annually and is alternately hosted by the FAA and EASA. Next year’s conference will take place in Cologne on June 10-12, 2025.

Source: FAA

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Middle East Based Dynamic Advanced Training Partners with Digital Recruitment Platform Avixoo Aviation

Dubai, United Arab Emirates based Dynamic Advanced Training which specialises in SEP aviation training, and houses an ATR72-600 and Airbus A320 full flight simulator training center operated by Ansett Aviation Training, has partnered with digital platform Avixoo Aviation.

Avixoo Aviation shared that they are committed to aligning with companies that believe in advancing individual growth and bringing positive change to the industry. Dynamic embodies these values perfectly.

“When you visit Dynamic, you will experience firsthand their dedication to training innovation and creating proficient aircrew. This partnership is a significant step forward in our mission to provide the best opportunities and support for our aviation community.” shared Avixoo Avaition.

Source: Avixoo Aviation
Photo Credit: Avixoo Aviation

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Aviation and Pilot Training Group Lufthansa Aviation Training to Cooperate with Airbus Defence and Space

  • Lufthansa Aviation Training and Airbus Defence and Space develop effective, state-of-the-art training concept for new space station Starlab.
  • Developing a European training infrastructure that meets the long-term needs of international research and industry.
  • Since 2000, Lufthansa Aviation Training has been involved in the training of ESA astronauts for the ISS and leads the European training consortium.

Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) and Airbus Defence and Space are cooperating for the planned commercial space station Starlab to further develop the training infrastructure for crew and ground personnel. The companies recently signed a corresponding memorandum of understanding.

Starlab Space LLC is a US-led global joint venture between Voyager Space, Airbus, Mitsubishi Corporation and MDA Space with the aim of putting a new Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space station into operation before the International Space Station (ISS) is decommissioned. Starlab will serve a global customer base of space agencies, research institutions and companies, thus ensuring the continuous presence of people in low Earth orbit. At the same time, it will ensure that science and research transition seamlessly from the ISS to the new era of commercial space stations.

As the leading training organization for airlines in Europe, Lufthansa Aviation Training is known for adhering to the highest safety standards and introducing the most modern training methods. Deeply rooted in the aviation industry, LAT combines unique airline know-how with extensive training expertise to create outstanding competence. Since 2000, LAT has also been involved in the training of ESA astronauts for the ISS and leads the European consortium of companies for training services.

Matthias Spohr, CEO Lufthansa Aviation Training GmbH: “With 24 years of experience in space training, we can look back on a long and successful partnership with Airbus for the Columbus module of the ISS. We are pleased to be able to contribute our expertise to the future training of astronauts in the new era of commercial space stations and to be involved in the realization of the Starlab program.”

Together with Airbus, Lufthansa Aviation Training will develop a comprehensive training concept and build a sustainable European training infrastructure that will meet the long-term needs of international research and industry after the ISS era. The first step will now be the development of a training concept for crew and ground staff.

Manfred Jaumann, Head of ‘Low Earth Orbit’ and Suborbital Programs at Airbus: “With Lufthansa Aviation Training, we are gaining another experienced European partner who will support our pioneering Starlab project with their many years of expertise. At Airbus and of course especially at our international joint venture Starlab, we see the joint development of tailor-made training concepts for the future Starlab teams – on the ground and in space – as an important and integral building block for our mission.”

About Lufthansa Aviation Training

With its expertise in the training and education of cockpit and cabin crew at ten training locations worldwide, Lufthansa Aviation Training GmbH (LAT) is one of the leading companies in the field of flight training. The company has its headquarters at Munich Airport and employs around 700 people at all training locations. Its customer portfolio includes over 250 nationally and internationally renowned airlines, including the Lufthansa Group airlines. Lufthansa Aviation Training has almost 200 training devices. These include training aircraft for pilot training, flight simulators of all common aircraft types for pilot training, and emergency and service mock-ups for the training and education of cabin crews. Lufthansa Aviation Training bundles the Lufthansa Group’s flight schools under the European Flight Academy (EFA) brand. 

Source: Lufthansa Aviation Training
Photo Credit: Lufthansa Aviation Training

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Pilot Training Industry Stakeholders Attending Aviation India Summit and Exhibition 2024

The inaugural Aviation India Summit and Exhibition will take place from June 12th to 13 at the JW Marriott Aerocity close to New Delhi International Airport, in association with India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The event will see the participation of a number of pilot training industry stakeholders including:

  • AFM represented by its Managing Director Maximilian Buerger
  • Chimes Aviation Academy represented by its CEO Bobby Sharma as well as Vice President Dev Punj
  • Airways Aviation represented by its owner and Chairman Romy Hawatt
  • Simaero represented by its General Manager for India Khushbeg Jattana
  • Pier Seven Aviation represented by its CEO Abhishek Nadkarni
  • Dynamic Advanced Training represented by its Operations Director Mark Kammer
  • BAA Training represented by India Regional Sales Manager Renu Raina
  • Alt Academy represented by its CEO Ryan Van Wijk
  • Aeroflight
  • L3Harris represented by Sales Director Subha Saha
  • AMST
  • Gen24 Flybiz
  • Orbit Flight Training Centre represented by its Head of Training Mukesh Sharan

For more information or to be connected directly to the organisations kindly contact us.

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China’s Leading Pilot Training Industry Event CATES 2024 Concludes with Key Stakeholder Participation

The 12th Civil Aviation Training & Education Summit (CATES) held on May 16-17, 2024 in Chengdu, China concluded very well with the participation of key stakeholders in the industry.

The opening remarks were delivered by Zhang Hong, Chairman of the China Aviation Industry-Education Integration Innovation Consortium, followed by a keynote speech from Liu Lianghao, Vice President of the China Airline Pilots Association (ChALPA).

Take a look at the following topics together with the keynote speakers:

May 16 (Day 1)

  • QAR Data Analysis and Training – Instrument Conversion Transition Period
    Zhang Hongwei, General Manager of Flight Technology Dept. Air China
  • Building Training Excellence -Aircraft Manufacturer Helps Customers Design and Develop Competency-Based Pilot Qualification Specifications
    Yang Jun, Head of Pilot Training, COMAC Shanghai Aircraft Customer Service Co., Ltd.
  • Competencies-Oriented FFS Training Exercise
    Zhang Weiwei, Product Director, China Simulation Sciences Co., Ltd.
  • Flight Quality Requirements Under Different Flight Perspectives
    Zhang Hongzhi, Executive President, Zhejiang Loongair
  • Boeing CBTA Introduction – Enhancing Flight Safety Through Data-Driven, Relevant Training
    Lee Chee Whai Willy, CBTA Deployment Specialist, Boeing
  • Application of Simulator Data Elements in Evidence Based Training
    Zhou Yizhi, General Manager, Zhuhai Xiang’yi Training Center of China Southern Airlines
  • Initial Flight Training Using a CBTA Training Development Methodology- PLM-CBTA Core Competencies Development Progress of the CAAC East China Regional Administration Meng Xiaoya, ICAO Certified Instructor for Competency-based Training Developers Course and Competency-based Training Instructors Course, ICAO Certified Instructional Systems Design (ISD) Validator
    Zhou Qinhao, EBT Instructor,Manager of Flight Quality and Data Analysis , Flight Standards Management Department,Spring Airlines
  • Technology to Support Competency Based Training Programs
    Capt. Chris Ranganathan,Chief Learning Officer,Civil Aviation Training,CAE
  • ErgoAI+XR Aviation Human Factor Engineering/ AI Enabled Pilot Test Selection Training Trends
    Zhu Xiaoqing, Technical Director/Senior Engineer,Kingfar International Inc.
  • The Funtion of LOSA in Safety and Training
    Dr. Li Tong, Professor,Civil Aviation Management Institute of China
  • Research on the Digitalization Application of Aviation Safety Reports Based on Machine Learning
    Zhang Shiwen, Engineer China Eastern Technology Application Research and Development Center CO.,LTD
  • EBT Practical Implementation
    Captain Philippe BOURDON，Head of Airbus Flight Training Center in Beijing, Airbus
  • Progress and Prospect of L0SA Work of Hainan Airlines
    Yan Bo, Vice President of Operations ,Hainan Airlines
  • The Power of Resilience – How Airlines Can Use CBTA Effectively to Build a Stronger Downstream Pool of Competent Pilots
    Capt. Stefan Dudda, Head of Training Etihad Aviation Training

May 17 (Day 2)

  • The Experience Sharing of EBT Curriculum Development
    Chen Han, A350 Instructor & A350 Chief Pilot, EFB Course Developer, Sichuan Airlines
  • 10 Years on – Defining Success in Evidence-Based Training
    Michael Varney, CEO Salient (Online)
  • FINDING THE ROOT CAUSE:Why Do New EBT Instructors Often Give PRO Low Marks?
    Michel Lacombe, Founder LACOMBE Training Consulting
  • Moving Qantas’ Training SystemTowards a CBTA System
    Andrew Stead, Head of Training and Checking, Qantas Airways Limited
  • Expand EBT Data Metrics, Enhance Proactive Safety Management Measurement- LOSA Practice of Shenzhen Airlines
    Yang zhuo, A330 Chief Pilot, Shenzhen Airlines
  • The PLM Construction Based on Digital Platform
    Bai Tao, Technical Manager of Flight Technical Management Department Shandong Airlines
  • Panel Discussion: Competency-Based Training CBTA, EBT – What Can We Learn from These Programs
    • Moderator:
      • Dr. Li Tong, Professor, Civil Aviation Management Institute of China
    • Panelists:
      • Yan Bo, Vice President – Operations, Hainan Airlines Guo Liang, Deputy General Manager of Flight Management Department, Spring Airlines
      • Zhang Weiwei, Product Director, China Simulation Sciences Co., Ltd.
      • Ton Stam,Sales Director, E2M Technologies B.V.
      • Michel Lacombe, Consultant, LACOMBE Training Consulting
      • Capt.Stefan Dudda, Head of Training, Etihad Aviation Training

Source: CATES 2024
Photo Credit: CATES 2024

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