Market Intelligence: LATAM

Airbus Helicopters Supports Fred North’s Global Mentorship Program for Young Pilots

Global – Airbus Helicopters has partnered with veteran stunt pilot Fred North to sponsor the Helicopter Safety Mentorship Program, a global initiative designed to connect young aviators with experienced mentors to enhance safety and professional development across the rotorcraft industry.

  • The programme, founded by Fred North — one of the world’s most recognised helicopter pilots in film and television — links early-career pilots with seasoned peers to provide guidance on operational decision-making, safety practices, and career progression.

  • More than 350 pilots worldwide are currently enrolled, with a further 40 on the waiting list, representing participants from North America, Europe, South Asia, and Latin America.

  • The mentorship structure allows flexible engagement between mentors and mentees, typically involving short, periodic exchanges to discuss topics such as mission planning, stress management, and operational risk.

  • Airbus Helicopters views the initiative as part of its holistic aviation safety strategy, focusing not only on technical innovation but also on pilot mindset, training quality, and human factors.

  • The company’s Head of Aviation Safety and Quality, Florence Verlut, highlighted that Airbus’ support for the programme aligns with its Zero Accidents roadmap by encouraging knowledge transfer between generations of pilots.

  • Airbus test pilot Olivier Gensse is among the mentors participating in the programme, contributing decades of operational experience to the next generation of rotorcraft professionals.

Statements

  • “We’ve done so much mechanically in the past 40 years that today helicopters are really reliable, if you do the maintenance correctly. Now, the weak part is us, as pilots, as human beings,” said Fred North, founder of the Helicopter Safety Mentorship Program. “I would love every young pilot doing his commercial license to be part of the programme. It can help create a safer environment because they can ask questions now and not make that mistake eight years later.”
  • “Airbus’ strategy is holistic — to not only look at the product, but to look at everything that can enhance safety. Fred’s mentors can reach all types of pilots, and his willingness to think about the future by upskilling the new generation aligns with Airbus’ safety roadmap,” said Florence Verlut, Head of Aviation Safety and Quality at Airbus Helicopters.

Source: Airbus

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Pilot Training Industry Supplier Feature – Keyvan Aviation – Aeronautical and Navigation Database Solutions for Flight Simulators

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series we speak with Mehmet Keyvan, CEO & Chairman at Keyvan Aviation (Keyvan Group), offering Big Data solutions and services in the aviation field, including with the approved Aeronautical and Navigation Database for Aircraft Avionics Systems, Flight Simulators and Flight Planning systems, and many other tailored data solutions.

The conversation covers:

  • Company Origins & Mission: Mehmet Keyvan founded Keyvan Aviation to provide certified global aeronautical and navigation data essential for flight operations, avionics, and simulators. As an EASA Type 1 Data Provider, the company ensures aviation stakeholders have access to precise, regulatory-compliant databases used by airlines, flight schools, and simulator operators.
  • Commitment to Data Quality & Certification: Mehmet Keyvan emphasized that “flying without data is like flying with closed eyes,” highlighting the importance of reliable, certified information in aviation safety and training. The company’s focus is on delivering trustworthy, high-quality data tailored to each client’s specific system and operational needs.
  • Strategic Partnerships & Innovation: Keyvan Aviation collaborates with major simulator and tech firms like Quantum3D, Simnest, and HAVELSAN to integrate high-quality data into 3D simulations and AI-powered systems. These partnerships aim to improve training realism and data analytics, supporting the growing need for efficient, modern pilot training solutions.
  • AI, Digitalization & Data-Driven Training: Mehmet believes artificial intelligence and real-time data will transform how pilots are assessed and trained, enabling more targeted and adaptive learning. By analyzing simulator data, instructors can identify weaknesses and tailor future sessions, enhancing safety and operational readiness.
  • Vision & Competitive Edge: Keyvan Aviation differentiates itself through its global data coverage, competitive pricing, and 24/7 technical support. With coverage of over 55,000 aerodromes and heliports worldwide, the company combines certification, quality, and customer service to meet the evolving needs of the aviation training industry.

 For more information:

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

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Aviation Radio Simulation Provider PlaneEnglish Showcases ARSim Research Findings at 2025 ICAEA Mexico City Conference

Mexico – At the 2025 International Civil Aviation English Association (ICAEA) Conference, the communications‑training specialist PlaneEnglish announced that a year‑long research study involving 156 student pilots has demonstrated significant improvement in radiotelephony proficiency and communication confidence through the use of its ARSim Aviation Radio Simulator training tool.

  • The study, presented by Nazmi Dinçer of the Turkish Air Force Academy, was titled “Breaking Barriers in Aviation Communication: Enhancing Radiotelephony Communication – The Impact of the Aviation Radio Simulator on Ab‑initio Pilots.”

  • Participants underwent simulation‑based training using ARSim, enabling interaction with air‑traffic‑control scenarios outside the cockpit environment.

  • Key outcomes included:

    • Higher radiotelephony proficiency

    • Reduced speaking anxiety

    • Greater willingness to communicate with ATC

    • Increased motivation and confidence

  • The initiative reflects a broader trend within aviation training to incorporate immersive, technology‑driven tools as a means of strengthening communication competencies and reducing operational risk.

  • This development is aligned with ICAEA’s 2025 conference theme of “Back to the future for Aviation English training: Current best practices and emerging technologies” which emphasises how training methodologies are evolving to integrate digital, blended and asynchronous formats.

Source: PlaneEnglish
Photo Credit: PlaneEnglish

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Airbus Delivers 507 Aircraft in First 9 Months of 2025, Reaffirms Full-Year Guidance

Global – Airbus has reported its commercial aircraft performance for the first nine months of 2025, with 507 aircraft delivered and consolidated revenues of Euro 47.4 billion. Despite ongoing supply chain challenges, the company has reaffirmed its full-year guidance and outlined future ramp-up trajectories for its A220, A320, A330, and A350 programs.

  • A total of 507 commercial aircraft were delivered in 9m 2025, up from 497 in the same period of 2024. Deliveries included:

    • 62 A220s

    • 392 A320 Family

    • 20 A330s

    • 33 A350s

  • Gross commercial aircraft orders reached 610 units, with 514 net orders after cancellations.

  • Airbus’ commercial aircraft revenues rose 3% year-on-year to Euro 33.9 billion.

  • EBIT Adjusted from commercial aircraft activities increased to Euro 3.27 billion, supported by a favourable hedge rate and reduced R&D expenses, though partially offset by a less favourable delivery mix.

  • Airbus maintains its 2025 guidance:

    • ~820 commercial aircraft deliveries

    • EBIT Adjusted ~Euro 7.0 billion

    • Free cash flow before customer financing ~ Euro 4.5 billion

  • Production targets and ramp-up outlook:

    • A220: Rate 12 now expected in 2026, reflecting current market balance.

    • A320 Family: Ramp-up to rate 75 per month targeted for 2027.

    • A330: Stabilized at rate 4; rate 5 expected by 2029.

    • A350: Targeting rate 12 by 2028.

  • The order backlog for commercial aircraft stood at 8,665 units at the end of September 2025.

Statements

  • “Our nine-month results reflect the level of commercial aircraft deliveries and a solid performance in the Defence and Space and Helicopters businesses,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO.

  • “Deliveries remain backloaded amid a complex and dynamic operating environment. Meanwhile, we continue to expand our industrial capacity to support the commercial aircraft ramp-up,” he added.

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus (shown as meta image)

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Pilot Training Industry Supplier Feature – Symbiotics – Leading Aspiring Pilot and Pilot Assessment Solutions

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series we speak with Hannah Davies, Director of Strategy and Growth at Symbiotics – a leading assessment solution provider for the pilot training ecosystem and airlines.

The conversation covers:

  • Company Overview: Symbiotics are global leaders with over 30 years’ experience specialising in psychometric assessments for aviation professionals through their ADAPT online platform, delivering over 150,000 tests annually across 80 countries. Their solutions support airlines, training schools, militaries, and other aviation operators worldwide, to support the recruitment, selection and development of aviation professionals aligned with ICAO competencies and regulatory requirements.
  • Expansion into Cabin Crew Assessments: Symbiotics recently expanded its expertise to include cabin crew assessments. Developed with industry input and aligned with ICAO competencies and CBTA principles, the new suite evaluates personality, cognitive reasoning, and crew resource management skills. The company also partnered with Sky People Training to add a foundation knowledge test, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation for both new and experienced crew.
  • Global Presence and Innovation: Active at key training and aviation events worldwide, Symbiotics values direct engagement with clients to gather feedback and share insights. The company continues to innovate, with the upcoming launch of a mobile-optimised testing interface aimed at enhancing accessibility and user experience during global recruitment campaigns.
  • Industry Trends and Challenges: Hannah highlighted that while pilot recruitment has slowed due to supply chain issues, demand is expected to rise again soon. She noted a stronger focus on selecting the right candidates early to reduce training costs and improve success rates. A key challenge remains aligning and analysing large datasets to link psychometric outcomes with training performance under CBTA and EBT frameworks.
  • The Future of Pilot Training and Symbiotics’ Role: Looking ahead, Hannah envisions a more data-driven and inclusive pilot training industry, with competency-based and personalised learning paths. She also sees growing use of AI and technology – where proven effective – to enhance training quality and safety. Symbiotics aims to stay at the forefront by combining innovation, data analysis, and close collaboration with clients.

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:

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