Market Intelligence: -Investments and Acquisitions

Global Pilot Training Group, BAA Training, Unveils EUR 30 Million Pilot Training Center near Paris

On September 28th, 2023 global pilot training group BAA Training held the opening ceremony of its brand-new pilot training facility in France, located close to Paris-Orly Airport. This expansion project was primarily inspired by collaboration with Transavia France and required a 30 million EUR investment. The full flight simulator training center, offering simulator WET and DRY lease services, is projected to train at least 2000 pilots annually on average.

Marijus Ravoitis, CEO of BAA Training, stated: “Today marks a milestone in the BAA Training journey as we proudly open our new, already fourth simulator training center. Amidst the aviation industry facing the challenges of a pilot shortage, the timing couldn’t be better for us to establish this facility. We remain confident in our commitment to meet and exceed industry needs, shaping the future of aviation.”

Being near Paris-Orly Airport, the second-largest airport serving Paris after Charles de Gaulle Airport, as well as the 11th busiest airport in Europe, will provide BAA Training with networking opportunities with airlines and other aviation-related businesses, leading to potential partnerships and clients. In addition to catering to Transavia’s needs.

Olivier Mazzucchelli, CEO of Transavia France, said by way of compliment: “BAA Training and Transavia France share the same DNA: safety first and efficient operations with a fast-growing, entrepreneurial and agile mindset. BAA Training demonstrated its understanding of our needs from day one to support our growing and challenging training plan on B737NG and from Q3 2023 – on A320neo.”

Currently, the facility accommodates three full-flight simulators (B747-400 and two B737 NGs), and the fourth – A320neo – will be ready for training at the beginning of November. In 2024-2025, two more full-flight simulators will be added. Other equipment to enhance pilot training includes the A320/321 and B737 Door Trainers, A320/321 Cabin Crew Emergency Evacuation Trainer, A320/B737 Slide, Real Fire Fighting Trainer, and B737 FTD. Moreover, A320 FTD Level 1 and B737 NG Level 2 are on their way and will be installed by the end of the year.

BAA Training is open to onboarding more customers to train at BAA Training France, along with offering its partners worldwide a broader range of training locations from now on. Vytautas Ledakas, Managing Director of BAA Training France, offered praise of the cooperation: “I want to thank Transavia France for the trust placed in us as an organization and for recognizing our dedication to excellence in training. This partnership underscores our shared values and commitment to setting new benchmarks. Together, we will continue to innovate, adapt, and lead in this dynamic industry.”

BAA Training also has training facilities in Lithuania, Spain, and Vietnam and is actively expanding with ambitious projects on a global scale. The BAA Training consultancy center in India, New Delhi, is already operational, with a dedicated team in place and operations underway. Additional locations are also being considered for future expansion.

BAA Training is part of the Avia Solutions Group family, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider, with a fleet of 192 aircraft. The group also provides a range of aviation services, including MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), pilot and crew training, ground handling, and various associated services. Supported by 11,500 highly skilled aviation professionals, the group operates in 68 countries worldwide.

Source: BAA Training
Photo Credit: BAA Training

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Prodigy Training Will Invest 20 Million Euro to Build West and Central Africa’s First Phase of an 8 Bay Independent Full Flight Simulator Training Center

Prodigy Training, one of the leading consultancy firms focusing on the development of the air transport industry in Africa, will invest EUR 20 million into phase one (1) of the future eight bays simulator and cabin crew training centre plans, to be based in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

This announcement follows Prodigy’s acquisition of two flight simulators over the last year including one Boeing 737 full flight simulator. The construction of the new facility is expected to start end of 2023, with temporary offices being used to initiate the certification with the local aerospace authority, support existing airline training clients, as well as a cabin crew CEET training device being installed in 2024. The training centre will be West and Central Africa’s largest independent full-flight simulator training organisation, focusing on providing airlines within the region with a full end-to-end local training solution provider and soon announcing the acquisition of a new full-flight simulator.

Prodigy has been working with Kylla Corporate Transactions, with its HQ in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, which secured the required funding for facility construction and purchasing of additional flight simulators and with Senegal-based advisory company, ACT Afrique.

“PRODIGY TRAINING will be a game changer for the African aviation industry, being the first independent airline-focused training simulator centre in West and Central Africa. Not only will it help airlines and other operators to reduce their training expenses while boosting competency, but it will also fill the training gap we have in the region and beyond. Considering the growth expected from the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), it is vital to have capacity-building entities (regardless of the industry) to ensure that the next generation is fully equipped to overcome future challenges. We are just putting some foundations for sustainability. As we all know, the industry at a worldwide level is severely impacted by the shortage of qualified and skilled labour, so we are already anticipating the training volume our continent will require. And we could not hope for a better location than Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire for Prodigy Training. Strategic partnerships with existing flight schools and aviation universities will soon be announced to provide airlines with a one-stop training solution for our airline clients” shared Capt. Idriss M. Chedjou, Founder of Prodigy Training.

Jay Begum, Kylla’s London-based Investment Manager and Non-Executive Director with Prodigy Training: “Prodigy Training stood out as an investment opportunity due to the visionary leadership of its founder, Captain Idriss M. Chedjou, sound business opportunity and demand in the market“.

Fabrice Nze-Bekale, ACT Afrique’s Chief Executive Officer: “We embarked on this adventure with Prodigy Training because of the tremendous positive impact this project would bring to the region’s air safety and industry.”

The new training centre will be ready for training in mid-2024 and is now in active discussion with airlines in the region on how to best support their training requirements.

About Prodigy Avia Solutions
Prodigy Avia Solutions (PAS) is one of the African leading aviation consultancy firms specializing in airline operations solutions, airline start-up support, fleet Entry into Service (EIS), audit preparation, charter and VIP operations, strategic airline advisory services varying from network and planning, airline restructuring, skilled manpower supply, documentation management system and much more. PAS has created a new Business Unit, PRODIGY TRAINING which will aim at further developing the African Air Transport industry by increasing access to first-class aviation training solutions to current and future aviation players in partnership with international training institutions committed to transforming the continent landscape. PAS is a member of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA).

About Kylla Corporate Transactions
Kylla is a corporate transactions and investment firm that matches growth-focused companies with a worldwide network of professional investors and business partners. Established in 2002 – with its head office based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands – the firm provides capital from €3 million to €30 million for corporate funding, expansion, acquisitions, recapitalisations, management buyouts and technical corporate structures. We specialise in international investments beyond borders, mainly in Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States. Kylla manages over 30 legal entities in 12 jurisdictions and had a leadership role in raising € 950 million in Venture Capital and Private Equity for various clients around the world. In addition, we have aggregated assets worth €3.2 billion in advisory management and managed six private equity funds.

About ACT Afrique
Founded in April 2012, ACT Afrique is a pan-African financial advisory and management consulting firm based in Dakar. ACT Afrique serves a wide range of clients in the public and private sector, locally and internationally, including: multinational and African companies, private financial institutions, development finance institutions, African governments, institutions and agencies, and non-profit organizations. In addition, ACT Afrique has solid references by advising countries and organizations such as FONSIS, Senegal’s sovereign wealth fund, the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, the Republic of Senegal, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the African Development Bank, COFINA Group, Total Marketing, the IAM group, NMA Sanders and so many others.

Source: Prodigy Avia Solutions
Photo Credit: Prodigy Avia Solutions

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