Market Intelligence: Indian Subcontinent

New Sri Lankan FTO to Launch with Tecnam Aircraft

Sri Lanka – Blue Skies Aviation Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, a Sri Lanka-based aviation services provider, has launched Blue Skies Aviation Academy as a newly formed Approved Training Organization (ATO) which will utilize Tecnam aircraft.

  • The academy will commence operations with an initial intake of 15 student pilots, with four intakes planned annually, scaling to a projected annual capacity of up to 60 cadets.

  • Blue Skies Aviation has selected an all-Tecnam fleet, comprising:

    • Three (3) P-Mentor single-engine aircraft

    • One (1) P2006T NG twin-engine aircraft

  • The approved training scope includes:

    • Private Pilot Licence (PPL)

    • Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)

    • VFR and IFR training

  • Standardising on the Tecnam P-Mentor and P2006T NG provides a common cockpit philosophy and modern glass avionics environment, enabling a structured progression from ab initio to multi-engine and instrument qualifications.

  • The Tecnam P-Mentor and P2006T NG platforms offer EASA CS-23 certification, fuel efficiency and reduced lifecycle maintenance costs, supporting competitive cost-per-flight-hour economics during the academy’s start-up and scaling phases.

Statements

  • “The launch of our Approved Training Organization marks an important milestone for Blue Skies Aviation Solutions as we invest in building a state-of-the-art pilot training capability in Sri Lanka. By partnering with Tecnam and standardizing our fleet around purpose-built training aircraft, we are establishing a strong foundation focused on safety, training quality, and regulatory compliance from day one. This initial intake represents the first phase of a scalable training model designed to support the long-term development of professional pilots aligned with international standards.” — Don Asitha Manage, Accountable Manager and Managing Director, Blue Skies Aviation Solutions.

  • “We are honored to be the aircraft of choice for Blue Skies Aviation Solutions as they bring this visionary new academy to Sri Lanka. Starting a new ATO requires a flawless foundation, and the combination of the P-Mentor and the P2006T NG is exactly that. It is the most modern, efficient, and profitable training fleet available on the market today. We are excited to support Blue Skies Aviation in their mission to elevate professional pilot training in the South Asian region and look forward to seeing their cadets take to the skies in our aircraft.” — Walter Da Costa, Chief Sales Officer, Tecnam.

Source: Tecnam
Photo Credit: Tecnam

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Ansett Aviation Training Dubai Welcomes Indian Pilots in 2026

UAE – Ansett Aviation Training, a global operator of full-flight simulator training centres, has announced that its Dubai facility has welcomed the first batch of pilots under its Indian DGCA-compliant type rating cohort. The milestone strengthens Ansett Aviation Training’s (AAT) long-standing engagement with the Indian pilot training demand as AAT previously delivered over 100 Airbus A320 type rating trainings to pilots under the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program through its training center in Melbourne, Australia.

Ansett Aviation Training’s global pilot training center network operators over 30 full flight simulators across 6 different training centres. Its headquarters are located at Tullamarine International Airport in Melbourne, Australia with two additional training centres in Australia and three international ones in Milan, Italy, Taipei, Taiwan and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Source: Ansett Aviation Training
Photo Credit: Ansett Aviation Training

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AeroGuard Flight Training Center Welcomes Air India Batch 5 to Phoenix Campus

India & USA — United States headquartered global flight training group AeroGuard Flight Training Center, which announced in 2024 its selection by Air India as a preferred flight training provider, has shared that it has welcomed Batch 5 of Air India cadets to its Phoenix campus.

AeroGuard’s CEO Joel Davidson visited the Air India Training Academy in October to meet and spend time with the new incoming cadets. AeroGuard places significant importance on cultivating an airline aligned pilot training culture and ensuring that the cadets are prepared to train within industry leading safety and quality flight training operations.

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 and career-focused curriculum has established airline-ready cadets for over 25 years with more than one million flight hours of training experience and graduating over 8,000 cadets.

Source: AeroGuard
Photo Credit: AeroGuard

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Air India Group Opens Recruitment for A320 Type Rated First Officers in February 2026

India – Air India Group has opened recruitment for experienced Airbus A320 type-rated co-pilots.

  • The airline is inviting applications from experienced A320 Type Rated Co-Pilots (First Officer (CPL) / Senior First Offer (ATPL)

  • Eligibility criteria include:

    • Valid A320 Co-Pilot endorsement

    • Minimum 500 flight hours on the Airbus A320 family

    • Maximum age limit of 40 years (45 years for Defence pilots holding A320 rating & ATPL)

  • Regulatory and documentation requirements include:

    • Indian Nationals or Overseas Citizens of India

    • Valid CPL/ATPL with current IR, PPC, FRTOL, COP/RTR

    • Valid Class I medical certificate

    • ICAO English Proficiency Level 4 or above

    • Incident/accident-free record certification

    • Mandatory eGCA ID with validated documentation

  • Selection process includes:

    • Psychometric assessment

    • Personal interview

    • Simulator flight proficiency test

    • Pre-employment medical examination

For more information or to apply – head to the Air India’s career platform.

Source: Air India
Photo Credit: Air India

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Indian Regional Airline Appoints New Vice President for Operations in 2026

India – Fly91, an Indian regional airline operator which operates a fleet of ATR 72-600, has promoted Captain Prateek Agarwal from Director of Training to Vice President – Operations. Agarwal will now oversee both Operations and Training, aligning operational delivery, regulatory compliance, and pilot training standards under one executive function.

Learn more about Fly91 or connect with Prateek Agarwa via his LinkedIn profile here.

Source: Prateek Agarwal (Fly91)
Photo Credit: Fly91

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UAE-based Pilot Training Organization Pier Seven Aviation Welcomes Second A320 Type Rating Batch of 2026

United Arab Emirates – Pier Seven Aviation, a full flight simulator training center and Approved Training Organization (ATO), has commenced its second Airbus A320 Type Rating course of 2026, welcoming eight pilots into the program. The batch launch comes amid sustained airline recruitment momentum and rising demand for type-rated pilots, particularly in India.

Pier Seven Aviation operates a fleet of six dynamic simulators, including the A320 NEO, A320 CEO, B737 CL, B737 NG, and B747.

Source: Pier Seven Aviation
Photo Credit: Pier Seven Aviation

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Pilotbase Launches the World’s First Pilot Experience Platform, Uniting Aviation Training Around Student Progress

USA – On February 25, 2026, at the Flight School Association of North America’s Conference & Trade Show (FSANA) 2026, Pilotbase officially launches as the new parent brand behind Flight Schedule Pro and LogTen and introduces the world’s first Pilot Experience Platform. Designed to align flight operations with measurable student progression, performance, and long-term career outcomes, Pilotbase becomes the first of its kind in a new category.

Unveiled at FSANA, Pilotbase marks the strategic evolution of the company long known for powering flight training operations. Flight Schedule Pro, the flight training industry’s most relied on operational software, and LogTen, the premier digital logbook technology for professional pilots, now operate as foundational components of the Pilot Experience Platform.

The company’s name change and rebrand does not reflect a merger or acquisition. It is the same team of pilots and aviation professionals who built Flight Schedule Pro almost 20 years ago, now aligning their products under a broader vision for pilot development and enhanced student progress.

“Flight schools are operating more like institutions of higher education than ever before,” said Bryan Landaburu, Chief Revenue Officer of Pilotbase. “Enrollment, instructional quality, student persistence, on-time completion, and first destination outcomes matter. Schools need tools that support standards-based training with measurable progress and visible performance. Pilotbase brings structure, accountability, and measurable momentum to the pilot journey.”

Why a Pilot Experience Platform Matters Now

Flight training has grown more demanding. Students face financial barriers that can delay or derail progression. Schools are under pressure to deliver stronger completion rates, better instructor alignment, and clearer career pathways. Employers are increasingly focused on merit-based hiring and verified experience.

Yet much of the industry still operates through fragmented systems.

Pilotbase introduces a unifying layer designed to connect flight operations, expand financing access, improve instructor performance visibility, and support career transitions into one coordinated experience.

“Our customers trust us to run mission-critical flight operations,” said Nick Wegner, Chief Executive Officer of Pilotbase and co-founder of Flight Schedule Pro. “They’ve asked us to go further. To help reduce financing friction, provide clearer visibility into instructor and student performance, and connect training directly to career opportunities. We are doubling down on operational excellence while building the next layer of innovation around it.”

What Changes — and What Does Not

Flight Schedule Pro and LogTen remain fully intact. Contracts, workflows, and support relationships are unchanged. What changes is alignment.

Under Pilotbase, flight operations software becomes the foundation of a broader Pilot Experience Platform designed to connect operational workflow with measurable student progression and long-term career outcomes.

Early launch partners include FLT Academy, US Aviation Academy, Spartan Aviation Group, Sierra Charlie Aviation, LIFT Academy, Coast Flight Training, flyADVANCED, Sling Pilot Academy, Middle Georgia State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Nationwide Aviation, Kingsky Flight Academy, Blue Line Aviation, and Crosswinds Aviation, among others. A full list of launch participants is available at pilotbase.com.

Here’s how leading operators describe it:
‍
“Growth in flight training doesn’t happen by accident. It happens with operational discipline and real visibility into student progression,” said Jason Clark, CEO of FLT Academy. “As we expand, we need infrastructure that connects workflow, standards, and outcomes at scale. Pilotbase aligns with how we run — structured, performance-driven, and built for long-term growth.”

“At US Aviation Academy, our goal is to connect the dots from first flight through first officer.” said Scott Sykes, Chief Development Officer of US Aviation Academy. “From enrollment, to check ride, to flight instruction, to airline, US Aviation and Pilotbase strive for seamless transition. “We’ve worked closely with the Pilotbase team because the future of flight training requires deeper integration between operations, standards, and career readiness.”

Live demonstrations are taking place this week at FSANA in San Diego.

About Pilotbase
Pilotbase is the company behind Flight Schedule Pro and LogTen. Trusted by more than 1,400 flight schools and hundreds of thousands of pilots worldwide, Pilotbase is building the world’s first Pilot Experience Platform, uniting flight schools, pilots, instructors, employers, and aviation partners around a shared mission: safely progressing more pilots from first flight to career.

Beginning February 25, 2026, all products will carry the “by Pilotbase” designation, reflecting the company’s unified brand and expanded mission. Learn more at www.pilotbase.com

Source: Pilotbase
Photo Credit: Pilotbase

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ATR Reports 60 Orders in 2025, Sets Stage for 2026 Production Ramp-Up

Global – aircraft manufacturer ATR concluded 2025 with a strong commercial performance, recording 60 gross orders and 50 net orders, despite ongoing supply chain disruptions that impacted delivery targets. The manufacturer now enters 2026 with a strengthened industrial foundation and a clear focus on ramping up production to meet rising global demand for turboprop aircraft.

  • 60 aircraft ordered from nine customers across nine countries, including major deals with UNI Air (19 aircraft) and Air Algérie (16 aircraft).

  • Net orders reached 50 aircraft, bringing ATR’s backlog to over 160 aircraft.

  • 32 aircraft delivered in 2025, below initial guidance due to supply chain bottlenecks affecting key components.

  • The manufacturer plans a 20% delivery increase in 2026, backed by internal process enhancements and part availability improvements.

  • Revenues remained stable at $1.2 billion, with customer support services hitting a record $538 million.

  • ATR added 19 new operators in 2025, with particularly strong growth in leasing activity and second-hand market transactions (over 90 recorded).

  • Key milestones included JSX launching ATR 42-600 operations in the U.S. and the first ATR -600 delivery in Canada to Rise Air.

  • ATR’s HighLine premium cabin offering continued gaining traction with regional carriers such as Berjaya Air, Air Tahiti, and Air Cambodia.

  • The company deepened investment in supply chain resilience and final assembly flow improvements, including the reopening of production stations.

  • ATR also entered a new technology phase through Clean Aviation’s HERACLES and DEMETRA R&T programs, aiming to demonstrate a hybrid-electric ATR 72-600 flying testbed by 2029.

Statements

  • “We do not measure the success of a transition year like 2025 on one number. We are determined to raise our delivery rate; and that is why we have worked on concrete steps to address the issues that limited our output. We have strengthened every part of our organisation and laid the groundwork for a safe, sustainable and credible increase in production.” – Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, CEO, ATR

  • “Tangible measures include improvements in Final Assembly Line flow, reopening of stations, a steady decline in part shortages – now down to one-third of early-2025 levels, alongside a close collaboration with our suppliers to get the end-to-end industrial system ready for ramp-up, targeting a 20% increase in deliveries this year compared to 2025.” – Marion Smeyers, SVP Operations & Procurement, ATR

  • “Demand for our aircraft is strong, regional operators want more capacity. Looking into 2026, regional mobility continues to grow, driven by modal shifts from ground to air in developing economies, a need for greater network connectivity in mature markets, and the development of premium passenger experiences. With a need for affordable air travel, and fuel costs set to increase, turboprops are the only economically viable solution to scale regional connectivity profitably.” – Alexis Vidal, SVP Commercial, ATR

Source: ATR
Photo Credit: ATR

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Airbus Delivers 793 Aircraft in 2025, Closes Year with Record 8,754 Orders

Global – Airbus concluded 2025 with a strong commercial performance, delivering 793 aircraft and securing 889 net orders, pushing its total order backlog to a record 8,754 aircraft.

  • Airbus delivered 793 commercial aircraft in 2025, up from 766 in 2024.

  • Deliveries included:

    • 93 A220s

    • 607 A320 Family aircraft

    • 36 A330s

    • 57 A350s.

  • Net commercial aircraft orders for the year totaled 889 units (2024: 826), with 1,000 gross orders placed.

  • The year-end order backlog reached a record high of 8,754 aircraft.

  • Airbus’ commercial aircraft revenue rose 4% year-on-year to Euro 52.6 billion, driven by higher deliveries and services.

  • Engine supply constraints—particularly from Pratt & Whitney—are impacting A320 Family ramp-up plans.

    • Airbus now targets a monthly production rate of 70–75 A320 aircraft by end-2027 (down from earlier estimates), stabilising at rate 75.

    • A220 output is projected to reach 13 aircraft per month by 2028.

  • Outlook for 2026 includes targeted deliveries of ~870 commercial aircraft, underlining continued ramp-up momentum.

Statements

  • “2025 was a landmark year, characterised by very strong demand for our products and services across all businesses, a record financial performance, and strategic milestones. We successfully navigated a complex and dynamic operating environment to deliver on our updated guidance. Global demand for commercial aircraft underpins our ongoing production ramp-up, which we are managing while facing significant Pratt & Whitney engine shortages. The broad and competitive portfolios of Defence and Space as well as Helicopters allow us to capture the momentum in defence. We are also making progress to establish a new global industrial space player, together with our partners. These 2025 results and the confidence in our future financial performance support the proposed higher dividend payment.” – Guillaume Faury, CEO, Airbus

Source: Airbus SE
Photo Credit: Airbus SE

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