Market Intelligence: Indian Subcontinent

Air India Appoints Captain Basil Kwauk as New COO Starting January 2025

New Delhi, India – Air India has announced the appointment of Captain Basil Kwauk as its new Chief Operations Officer (COO), effective January 2025. Kwauk, a seasoned pilot and mechanical engineer with over 25 years of experience, will take over from Captain Klaus Goersch, who is stepping down at the end of December to assume a senior role in the United States.

  • Incoming COO: Kwauk brings extensive operational expertise from his career with Singapore Airlines and Vistara, where he flew aircraft including Airbus A319s and Boeing 787s. He will relocate to Delhi in the coming weeks to assume his new responsibilities.
  • Leadership Transition: Air India CEO Campbell Wilson praised both leaders, expressing gratitude for Goersch’s invaluable contributions and confidence in Kwauk’s ability to lead the airline into its next phase of transformation.

Source: Air India & Local Media Reporting

Related Posts

Air India Begins Construction of New Cadet Pilot School in December 2024

Amravati, Maharashtra, India – Air India Training Academy has commenced construction of its new Cadet Pilot School in Amravati. This facility, designed for a fully residential Ab-initio Training Program, will serve as a cornerstone for training the next generation of Air India Group pilots.

  • Purpose-Built Facility: The training school will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure for cadet pilots, supporting Air India’s ambitions to enhance its in-house training capabilities.
  • Timeline: The academy is expected to be operational in 2025, pending formal regulatory approvals.

In July 2024 Air India announced plans to establish a flight training organisation at Belora Airport in Amravati, Maharashtra with plans for it to become the largest such flight training organisations in South Asia.

  • The DGCA-licensed Flight Training Organisation (FTO) will be the first of its kind by an Indian airline
  • The facility will feature 31 single-engine aircraft and three twin-engine aircraft for training purposes
  • Air India has secured a 30-year tender from the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) to establish and operate the FTO
  • The training institute will cover 10 acres and include digitally-enabled classrooms, modern hostels, a digitised operation centre, and a maintenance unit

Source: Air India Training Academy

Related Posts

Indian Pilot Training Group FSTC Welcomes 39th CPL Batch

FSTC, an Indian aviation training group operating both flight schools and full flight simulator training centers, welcomed CPL Batch No. 39 consisting of 9 cadets in November 2024.

FSTC Flying School recently acquired an Immersive Training Device’s (ITD), known as the Virtual Flight Instructor, to enhance their cadets’ flying skills through advanced technology.

In June 2024 FSTC also added a brand new Boeing B737MAX full flight simulator to its Gurugram facility.

In April FSTC shared its 2024 Group Overview Corporate Video.

Source: FSTC
Photo Credit: FSTC

Related Posts

Flight School Management Software Provider, Flight Schedule Pro, Appoints 2024 Chief Marketing Officer

USA – Flight Schedule Pro, a software solutions provider specializing in flight training and pilot management, has appointed Bryan Landaburu as its new Chief Marketing Officer. The announcement comes as the company, part of the Mainsail Partners portfolio, focuses on consolidating its recent acquisitions and redefining its market approach.

  • Landaburu brings significant expertise in marketing to support Flight Schedule Pro’s strategic growth initiatives.
  • Flight Schedule Pro has achieved dominant market leadership in the flight training software sector, with over 50% of flight schools and airline cadet programs utilizing its services.
  • Since its acquisition by Mainsail Partners in 2022, the company has expanded its portfolio by acquiring Coradine Aviation, LogTen Pilot Logbook, and Pilotbase.
  • Over 50,000 professional pilots currently log their flights daily using Flight Schedule Pro’s applications.
  • The organization is focused on creating a new, unified category that maximizes the potential of its combined brands, with an emphasis on maintaining pilots as the central figure in its narrative.

Statements:

  • “I am pleased to announce that I recently joined Mainsail Partners portfolio company, Flight Schedule Pro, as their Chief Marketing Officer. This is an exciting opportunity and a great fit for me,” said Bryan Landaburu. “In order for these strategic acquisitions to harmonize and realize their combined potential, we must rewrite the story and construct a new category. Staying true to the roots of our business, pilots will remain the hero of our story.”

Learn more about Flight Schedule Pro or Mr. Landaburu by connecting with him through his LinkedIn profile here.

Source: Bryan Landaburu (Flight Schedule Pro)
Photo Credit: Flight Schedule Pro

Related Posts

World’s Largest ACMI Provider and Aviation Conglomerate, Avia Solutions Group, Reports Revenues up 25% to €2 Billion for 9 Months 2024

Dublin, Ireland – Dublin-based Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, which operates a 221 aircraft fleet in total, split between 183 passenger aircraft and 38 freighters, has announced its financial results for the three quarters of this 2024.

The Group’s revenues increased by 25% to €2,06 billion compared to the same period last year, while net profit also rose to €83,3 million from €70,8 million. The group’s EBITDA for the period stands at €406 million, an 29% increase compared to the same period last year.

Over the first 9 months of 2024, the main revenue-generating regions for Avia Solutions Group were Europe (55,1%) and Asia (27,9%). The Americas, Africa, Australia and Pacific Islands represented 11,8%, 2,7%, and 1,2% of revenues respectively.

Avia Solutions Group has an ongoing strategy of investing in bolstering its capacity to meet the continued strong demand from airlines globally for additional aircraft during their peak seasons. The Group completed the acquisition of Australian based Skytrans in the first half of 2024, bringing the total number of air operator certificates held by the Group to 11 and over the third quarter also established its first AOC in Thailand, Thai SmartLynx. The Group is planning to obtain further air operator certificates (AOCs) in Malaysia, Philippines and Brazil by the end of 2025.

Jonas Janukenas, CEO of Avia Solutions Group said: “Expanding into Southeast Asia and other counter cyclical markets represents a pivotal strategic direction for the group. These regions offer significant growth opportunities and enable us to optimize fleet utilization year-round. By leveraging the robust demand in these markets, particularly during Europe’s off-peak winter season, we can effectively balance seasonal variations, ensuring our aircraft remain active and profitable while supporting our global network and customer needs.”

According to Janukenas, the cargo market has proved challenging in 2024 due to overcapacity. However, the Group anticipates increasing activity in the cargo market in 2025.

To further the Group’s business development initiatives, Avia Solutions Group also successfully issued US$300 million of five-year senior unsecured bonds with a coupon of 9,75% in the first half of 2024.

Testament to investor confidence in the Group’s strategy is the increase of group equity capital by €300 million in 2024. This growth in group equity capital relates to US-based Certares Management LLC, a private equity investment firm which invested into Avia in 2021, electing to convert its preferred shares to ordinary shares.

In November, the Group placed its first direct order for 80 Boeing 737 MAX, split between 40 firm and 40 purchases rights. The deliveries will start in 2030.

Avia Solutions Group offers its services to customers including some of the largest airlines in the world. The group operates in 68 countries around the world and consists of 250+ companies providing a wide range of aviation services like aircraft maintenance and repair (MRO), pilot and crew training, ground handling, and more. The group’s team encompasses 14,000 highly qualified aviation professionals.

Source: Avia Solutions Group
Photo Credit: Avia Solutions Group

Related Posts

Pilot Training Industry Supplier Feature – True Course Simulation

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series we speak with Brett Watts  – CEO of True Course Simulations, a simulator manufacturer that specializes in virtual reality flight training.

True Course Simulation offers a simple 3-step learning process that includes a pre-flight briefing, interactive simulations, and visual demonstrations of maneuvers.

The conversation covers:

  • Company Evolution and Offerings: True Course Simulations (TCS) provides comprehensive VR-based flight training solutions that include hardware (immersive training devices), software (courseware), and data management tools. Originally focused on military contracts, the company has expanded to serve civilian flight schools globally, prioritizing innovation and efficiency in pilot training.
  • Global Expansion and Partnerships: TCS has established partnerships with flight training organizations worldwide, including recent device deployments to Nelson Aviation College (New Zealand), Embry-Riddle Asia (Singapore), and Sydney Flight College (Australia).
  • Key Trends in Pilot Training: Brett highlighted the increasing demand for efficiency due to rising costs and instructor shortages. Another trend is the growing adoption of automation and VR to supplement traditional training, reducing stress on students and instructors.
  • Impact on Training and Safety: TCS tools improve safety and efficiency by enabling students to master core skills in simulations before real-world training. This approach reduces cognitive overload and better prepares students for complex multitasking in the cockpit.
  • Mission: TCS stands out by offering an integrated system of VR labs, self-guided learning, and performance analytics. The company aims to empower students with confidence and proficiency while supporting partners in modernizing their training systems.

For more information:

You can find all of the AFM.aero Pilot Training Industry Interview Episodes here.

To stay up to date and get notified about all of the latest episodes from AFM you can follow us through the below platforms:

Related Posts

Flight Simulator Manufacturer HAVELSAN Delivering A320neo FFS to Simaero in 2025

HAVELSAN, a pioneering technology company with over 30 years of experience in developing large-scale military flight simulators, is proud to announce its first international export in the field of civil aviation simulators. Under an agreement with France-based SIMAERO, HAVELSAN will deliver an A320 FFS (Full Flight Simulator) to a flight training center in India.

The agreement, which became effective on October 29, represents a significant achievement not only for HAVELSAN but also for Turkey’s technology sector. It establishes a new dimension in Turkey-India trade relations, focusing on civil aviation, a rapidly growing industry worldwide.

Setting New Standards in Aviation Training

As a company committed to innovation, HAVELSAN has consistently delivered cutting-edge solutions to the aviation industry. Our simulators are utilized by leading airlines and training centers, including Turkish Airlines (THY). With the delivery of the A320 FFS to India, HAVELSAN aims to contribute to the development of the country’s aviation infrastructure, aligning with its status as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.

The A320 FFS is designed to meet the highest industry standards, incorporating EASA Level D certification, AI-driven capabilities, and advanced technologies such as Mixed Reality (MR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR). These features ensure a highly realistic and efficient training environment for pilots, setting a new benchmark in aviation training.

A Strategic Collaboration for Global Growth

The agreement with SIMAERO marks a significant milestone for HAVELSAN’s global expansion strategy. The contract was signed by HAVELSAN’s CEO, Mr. Mehmet Akif Nacar, and SIMAERO India’s General Manager, Mr. Kushbeg Jattana, reinforcing a strong partnership between the two organizations.

On this occasion, HAVELSAN CEO, Mr. Mehmet Akif Nacar, stated: “This project reflects HAVELSAN’s dedication to delivering world-class technological solutions and our commitment to supporting the global aviation industry. Exporting our first civil aviation simulator to India is a source of pride for us and a testament to Turkey’s capabilities in advanced technology development. We look forward to further opportunities to strengthen our presence in the international market.”

Driving Innovation and International Collaboration

As HAVELSAN, we take pride in being a trusted partner in the aviation sector, combining decades of expertise with a forward-looking approach to innovation. This project represents a significant step in our efforts to contribute to the development of aviation training infrastructure on a global scale, and we are honored to be part of India’s journey toward becoming a global aviation leader.

About HAVELSAN
HAVELSAN is a globally recognized leader in flight simulation, training solutions, and software technologies, with over 40 years of experience. The company combines its expertise in military and civil aviation with innovative approaches to deliver tailored solutions for the aviation industry worldwide.

Source: HAVELSAN
Photo Credit: HAVELSAN

Related Posts