Market Intelligence: -General Aviation

Australia’s RMIT University Announces Partnership with Airline to Establish Safety Academy

Melbourne, Australia – RMIT University will partner with Qantas to establish a national first safety academy, upskilling professionals across all high reliability sectors in Australia, including transport, energy and medicine.

The Qantas Group Safety Academy is set to launch in 2025, offering online or in-person programs to upskill leaders, safety professionals and entry level workers.

The courses have been designed in collaboration with RMIT and Griffith universities, leveraging Qantas’ industry expertise, and will develop a new national standard to support safety critical industries.

The suite of micro credentials will allow students to rapidly upskill in safety culture, risk management, data management, cyber safety and human safety factors including sleep and fatigue management.

The programs complement RMIT’s existing aviation training and education, comprising nearly 100 study pathways, which will be available to Academy graduates who may choose to explore credit transfers for higher post-graduate qualifications.

The Academy’s offer is planned to expand throughout 2026 to offer accredited post graduate qualifications and advanced research programs to benefit industry through the establishment of a Centre of Safety Excellence.

RMIT Aviation has operated for more than 80 years. It expanded to regional Victoria in 2019, providing training in Bendigo to help meet skills demands in Australia and abroad. RMIT has the largest fleet of aircraft in the higher education sector in Australia.

Quotes attributable to RMIT Aviation Academy Director Lea Vesic:

“RMIT’s partnership with Qantas is testament to the quality of our training and leadership – not just in producing job-ready graduates but fostering collaboration across the sector.

“The new Qantas Safety Academy will utilise our training expertise to build a pipeline of safety leaders who have a broad set of critical skills.

“These types of industry partnerships – and innovative training delivery – will be even more critical as we look to futureproof the aviation industry in Australia.”

Quotes attributable to Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson:

“Safety and training have been part of Qantas’ DNA since our first flight back in 1922.

“The new Qantas Group Safety Academy will help upskill a generation of safety and risk professionals, leaning on Qantas’s century of practical experience with safety leadership and the academic expertise of RMIT and Griffith University.”

Quotes attributable to Dean (Academic) Griffith Sciences Group Professor Rosalind Archer:

“Griffith is an industry leader in the area of safety science where we can offer a combination of leadership, science and social science across a multidisciplinary and multi-industry platform.

“This is not a cookie cutter approach to safety science, but micro credentials with depth which offers a post graduate learning environment for professionals who want to advance their careers and take the next step.”

Source: RMIT University
Photo Credit: RMIT University

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Air Force New Trainer Jet on Track for 2027 Operational Capability Amid Delays

USA – The U.S. Air Force’s next-generation training program for pilots, centered on the new Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk, has achieved multiple development milestones despite a schedule running three years behind. The Air Force now targets initial operational capability by 2027, with several advancements in both the aircraft and its ground-based training systems expected to further optimize pilot training efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

  • Boeing and Saab recently delivered three T-7A aircraft to support the Air Force’s flight test program, slated for completion by late 2025.
  • The T-7A training ecosystem features an integrated ground-based training system (GBTS), designed by Boeing, and equipped with cutting-edge LVC (live-virtual-constructive) simulation technology.
  • This system connects training devices and aircraft in real-time, enabling a high-fidelity, “as-real-as-it-gets” training experience through 8K high-resolution projectors, embedded training, and modular open architecture.
  • Boeing’s suite of devices, developed with Advanced Simulation Technology’s Voisus product, supports training from entry-level flight through advanced fighter maneuvers, helping pilots practice complex scenarios on the ground to reduce in-air training time and costs.
  • The Air Force plans to advance these systems further by incorporating augmented, virtual, and mixed reality training for future missions, with updates deployed across both training devices and aircraft through a centralized software update system.
  • Future upgrades for the T-7A training program will include a dedicated suite of maintenance training systems, with a contract expected in early 2025.

Statements:

  • “With the architecture we have, we can quickly field enhancements… future mission sets can be incorporated rapidly,” said Mike Foust, Boeing’s Director of T-7 Training and Product Support.
  • “You could have everybody airborne at the same time… [embedded training] gives the pilots the flexibility for training in the air, on the ground, or with a mix of both,” said Col. Robert Volesky, T-7 Division Chief at the Air Force.
  • “The T-38 fleet is getting costly to maintain… we want to give our Air Force pilots a safer aircraft to be trained in,” Volesky added.

Source: US Air Force, Boeing and ASTi

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US Aviation Regulator FAA Announces Final Rule for Pilot Certification and Operations Involving Powered-Lift Aircraft

Washington, USA – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is ready for powered lift, which will be the first completely new category of civil aircraft since helicopters were introduced in the 1940s. Powered lift operations include air taxis, cargo delivery and a variety of operations within urban and rural areas.

The agency, on October 22, 2024, issued a final rule for the qualifications and training that instructors and pilots must have to fly aircraft in this “powered-lift” category, which have characteristics of both airplanes and helicopters. The rule also addresses their operational requirements, including minimum safe altitudes and required visibility. The rule is the final piece in the puzzle for safely introducing these aircraft in the near term. The opportunities for the use of powered lift operations are far reaching, from transporting passengers in urban areas and short-haul operations such as air ambulance services and cargo operations to potentially serving smaller communities over time.

“The FAA will continue to prioritize the safety of our system as we work to seamlessly integrate innovative technology and operations. This final rule provides the necessary framework to allow powered lift aircraft to safely operate in our airspace,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker.  “Powered lift aircraft are the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years and this historic rule will pave the way for accommodating wide-scale Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations in the future.”

The FAA previously determined it could certify powered-lift using existing regulations and updated other regulations so air taxis could be used commercially. Last year the agency released a blueprint for how Urban Air Mobility vehicles will operate, which is a key element in maturing the overall AAM concept.

A new pilot-training and qualifications rule was needed because existing regulations did not address this new category of aircraft, which can take off and land vertically like a helicopter and fly like an airplane during cruise flight. The rule provides a comprehensive framework for certifying the initial cadre of powered-lift instructors and pilots.

The rule:

  • Makes changes to numerous existing regulations and establishes a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) with new requirements to facilitate instructor and pilot certification and training.
  • Applies helicopter operating requirements to some phases of flight and adopts a performance-based approach to certain operating rules.
  • Allows pilots to train in powered-lift with a single set of flight controls; legacy rules require two flight controls – one for the student and one for the instructor.

Source: FAA
Photo Credit: Joby Aviation

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Etihad Airways Announced as Official Airline and Platinum Sponsor for Air Expo Abu Dhabi 2024

The organizing committee of the Air Expo Abu Dhabi proudly announces Etihad Airways as the Official Airline and Platinum Sponsor for the upcoming event, scheduled for 19-21 November 2024.

Since 2012, Etihad Airways has consistently supported the Air Expo, reflecting its commitment as the national carrier of the UAE to promote Abu Dhabi as a global aviation hub.

As an industry leader, Etihad Airways continues to play a crucial role in advancing the aviation sector in the region. The airline is currently undergoing an ambitious growth strategy which will see it double the fleet size and destination network by 2030, as well as triple the number of passengers carried from 2022 figures. This growth further underpins Etihad’s contribution to the growth of Abu Dhabi’s aviation sector.

As part of Etihad’s commitment to growing a talent pipeline for the UAE’s aviation industry, the airline has recently announced the relaunch of its successful Cadet Pilot program. Etihad Airways is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of aviation professionals and by 2030 aims to employ more than 600 Emirati pilots who will have graduated from the program. The Air Expo will serve as a strong opportunity to highlight careers in aviation in Abu Dhabi, providing aspiring aviators with insights and pathways into the industry.

Commenting on the continued partnership, Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “We are delighted to support the Air Expo Abu Dhabi once more as the Official Airline and Platinum Sponsor. At Etihad, we are committed to showcasing Abu Dhabi’s position as a pivotal player in the global aviation industry. This event not only underscores our dedication to innovation and excellence but also highlights our role in connecting Abu Dhabi to the world. With the recent launch of our cadet pilot program, this expo presents a unique platform to inspire and attract talent to the vibrant aviation sector here in Abu Dhabi. We look forward to welcoming participants and visitors to this prestigious event.”

The Air Expo Abu Dhabi 2024 promises to bring together key stakeholders from the aviation sector, including manufacturers, suppliers, and industry experts, further establishing Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a leading aviation hub.

About Etihad
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was formed in 2003 and quickly went on to become one of the world’s leading airlines. From its home in Abu Dhabi, Etihad flies to passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Together with Etihad’s codeshare partners, Etihad’s network offers access to hundreds of international destinations. In recent years, Etihad has received numerous awards for its superior service and products, cargo offering, loyalty programme and more. Etihad sees tackling the climate crisis as the most important issue of our time and was named the Airline Ratings Environmental Airline of the Year for the third consecutive year in 2024. It has invested billions in fuel-efficient aircraft. Through strategic partnerships with major global aviation brands and OEMs, Etihad is relentless in its pursuit of industry decarbonisation.

About Air Expo Abu Dhabi
Air Expo Abu Dhabi is a premier aviation event, showcasing the latest developments, innovations, and future outlooks in the aviation industry. The event gathers industry leaders, experts, and enthusiasts to engage, share knowledge, and explore the forefront of aviation technology and solutions. For more information, visit www.adairexpo.com

Source: Air Expo Abu Dhabi
Photo Credit: Air Expo Abu Dhabi

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