Market Intelligence: North America

US Flight School Skyview Aviation Invests Into Fleet Expansion to Meet Growing Pilot Training Demand

Skyview Aviation, a California, United States based flight training organisation with multiple bases, has been growing on a number of fronts as it aims to cater to a growing demand from aspiring pilots. In March 2022 Skyview Aviation was acquired by current owner Jay Vyas who has since then invested into:

  • Acquired a number of aircraft to train its growing number of international students – added to its fleet four new Cessna 172s, one C152 and one new Piper Seneca.
  • Expanded offices and facilities to accommodate growing number of flight instructors and staff
  • In 2023 the flight school enrolled close to 60 new international students including ones from India, South Korea, Japan, Philippines, Egypt, Korea, Taiwan and Qatar.

Currently, Skyview Aviation has over 60 full time students with 14 Flight Instructors. It operates 16 aircraft including Cessna 172, Cessna 152, and Piper Seneca. Skyview Aviation is also in discussions with international airlines for abinitio pilot cadet programs.

Source: Skyview Aviation
Photo Credit: Skyview Aviation

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Flight Simulator Manufacturer Loft Dynamics Announces Latest Appointment for Chief Service Officer

Loft Dynamics announces that Sabrina Barbera has joined the leadership team as Chief Service Officer to support the company’s rapid growth. Sabrina provides a profound background within the helicopter industry. She will lead the Flight Simulator Training Device Organization (FSTDO) team consisting of aviation and compliance specialists to offer high standard simulator training services to the aviation industry.

Profound training management and helicopter industry background

Sabrina studied mechanical engineering and has completed a Master Degree of Science in Operational Research. She developed profound competencies working 17 years for Airbus Helicopters at different positions including occupying the positions of the Vice-President Head of Company Development, Strategy M&A and Vice President Head of Training and Flight Operation Services. Before joining Loft Dynamics she lead the team of Blade Europe as Executive Director. “We are pleased to have successfully recruited such a competent individual as Sabrina. This enables us to expand our FSTDO services, ultimately benefiting our customers and advancing flight safety in the industry,” Fabi Riesen, Founder and CEO of Loft Dynamics says.

Developing pilot training in the interests of flight safety

Many aviation experts and pilots have already recognized the potential of Loft Dynamics’ training solutions. Sabrina observed the development of the Loft Dynamics team at an early stage. She remarks: “I noticed the potential of these high-quality products to significantly enhance flight safety at affordable costs years ago. It’s satisfying to now be part of the journey, reinventing pilot training by effectively introducing innovation and new technologies to the aviation industry. We support customers in transforming their training, benefiting from this new technology. I appreciate the efficiency and agility of the Loft Dynamics team.”

“The first time I met the team at Loft Dynamics, I immediately recognized the potential that their technology holds for the aviation industry, especially in terms of its significant impact on training and safety. I am genuinely excited to contribute to the team and be part of the journey in developing flight training,” said Sabrina Barbera, CSO, Loft Dynamics.

Sabrina personally

Sabrina grew up in France and worked several years in Canada, Australia and southern part of France. She has a passion for helicopters in particular and aviation in general. Sabrina loves being in the mountains for climbing and hiking, enjoys going on ski tours, or engaging in sports wherever she is.

Offering strong and comprehensive flight training solutions including services

Loft Dynamics offers not only highly realistic professional flight simulators but also a comprehensive service to customers, including training services. Loft Dynamics provides various services, from planning the installation to qualifying the device under EASA regulations with its own Flight Simulator Training Device Organization (FSTDO). This relieves customers from technical and administrative tasks involved in operating the devices. Overall, Loft Dynamics products reduce training costs and improve flight safety while at the same time scaling down the ecological footprint of the aviation industry.

About Loft Dynamics

Loft Dynamics AG (formerly VRM Switzerland) specializes in designing, manufacturing and operating VR flight simulation training devices (FSTDs) for various aircraft systems. Founded in 2016, our mission is to revolutionize global aviation by providing best-in-class pilot training that is safe, accessible and affordable. Our immersive simulators, equipped with a 3D high-resolution panoramic view, dynamic six-degrees-of-freedom motion platform and a full-scale replica cockpit with a unique pose tracking system, are 20 times less expensive and 10 times smaller than traditional flight simulators. As an ISO 9001-certified flight simulation training device operator, we provide continuous and comprehensive customer support, from installation and maintenance to training and regulatory approvals. Leading manufacturers, airlines, operators, schools and organizations worldwide choose Loft Dynamics simulators — the world’s first and only VR FSTDs with EASA FTD Level 3 regulatory approval. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, our team comprises passionate engineers, developers and aviation experts.

Source: Loft Dynamics
Photo Credit: Loft Dynamics

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US Regional Airline Association “Corrects Misinformation About Pilot Supply”

United States – The Regional Airline Association (RAA), which represents 16 U.S. airlines that collectively offer the only source of air service to more than two-thirds of the nation’s airports, issued a statement in response to misinformation from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) earlier this week. In its statement, ALPA accused “corporate special interests” of “misleading data to manufacture a crisis,” and claimed that “2023 pilot production exceeded airline demand.”

These accusations are demonstrably false.

  • Verifiable data on FAA pilot certifications (11,225 pilots) and major airline hiring (12,193) shows a shortfall of 968 pilots in 2023.
  • This follows an even more severe shortfall in 2022, where major airlines hired 13,128 pilots, while only 9,491 new pilots qualified.
  • With a shortage of at least 4,605 pilots, 400 aircraft were parked and 317 U.S. airports lost an average of 25% of their flights, more than forty airports lost more than half of their flights, and 12 airports lost all air service.

It is unacceptable that a well-resourced, large union with enormous political giving, representing some of the country’s highest earning professionals, would call smaller airlines and the communities they serve “special interests,” even as the union leverages safety regulations to narrow training access at the front end of the career and unscientific retirement caps that push pilots out on their 65th birthday. The common thread of these antithetical objectives is controlling the pilot supply to preserve their perceived wage bargaining advantage. Make no mistake: skilled pilots deserve to be—and are—well compensated. But it is wrong—and should be unacceptable to policymakers with safety oversight to tolerate—when a labor union uses safety regulations to promote industrial goals.

While ALPA plays flat Earth games with Congress and the public, real people and real communities have been hurt by the pilot shortage and its growing air service harms. Displaced passengers must drive for hours to reach the next nearest airport, on highways where more than 40,000 people lose their lives each year. Given the traffic fatality rate is 1.5 times higher in rural communities than in urban areas, this is a painful reminder of the ways transportation policy fails rural Americans.  Doing the right thing should not be partisan, and pilot unions should not be afforded a veto over policies that impact real Americans. RAA urges policymakers to ignore false and defamatory comments and to do the right thing by eliminating ageist policies that push experienced pilots from the flight deck, while improving training access equity so more pilots can gain the training and experience needed to safely reconnect our American communities. To access more information on air service loss and sourcing for the facts in this statement, click here.

Source: RAA Press Release
Photo Credit: RAA Press Release

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US Regional Airline, Silver Airways, and Epic Flight Academy Announce Partnership

On Friday, February 9, 2024, United States based flight training group Epic Flight Academy and Silver Airways jointly announced their partnership, an exclusive pilot pathway to Silver Airways. Accepted candidates participate in this career development program that includes mentoring and career guidance, professional pilot development, and internship and engagement opportunities.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Epic Flight Academy and look forward to speaking with the students and instructors about Sterling, our new pilot pathway program,” said Kerri Beuker, Director of Talent & Engagement at Silver Airways.

Epic founder and CEO Danny Perna added, “The Sterling program provides excellent career options for our students. We are happy to establish this partnership and offer this excellent pilot pathway.”

Silver Airways is a regional airline based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Founded in 2011, Silver operates flights throughout Florida, the Southeast, and The Bahamas.

Epic Flight Academy is headquartered in New Smyrna Beach, Florida with locations across the U.S. The company was founded in 1999 and provides FAA-approved flight training and aircraft mechanic training.

Source: Epic Flight Academy
Photo Credit: Epic Flight Academy

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American Flight Schools Choose Private-Radar as their Flight School Management System

Flight school management software solution provider Private-Radar is proud to announce its partnership with one of North America’s largest pilot training organizations, American Flight Schools.

Established in 1977, American Flight Schools are a group of like-minded Flight Schools and clubs that work together to provide flight training and aircraft rentals. Today, the American Flight School network includes eight flight training facilities and six maintenance bases all of which will benefit from Private-Radar’s Flight School Management System.

By partnering with Private-Radar, American Flight Schools now have access to an easy-to-use, cloud-based management solution that can be implemented across all eight of their locations. With Private-Radar, every aspect of managing a flight school is brought together in one place: Scheduling, Student Records, Maintenance, Billing and Invoicing, Reporting, and Live Aircraft Tracking are just some of the key features available.

Prisque Lemblé, Founder and CEO of Private-Radar, says,

“We are really proud to have been chosen by American Flight Schools, one of the largest flight schools in the United States. American Flight Schools operate multiple bases across several states, and I am delighted that they trust Private-Radar to handle such a complex operation. We’re looking forward to building a long-term relationship and working with American Flight Schools to take their business to the next level.”

Danny Smith, President at American Flight Schools, comments,

“At American Flight Schools, we operate hundreds of aircraft across eight bases in four different states. We were looking for a software solution that would allow us to upgrade our operations, and after reviewing the options available we saw that Private-Radar offers a modern and extremely comprehensive solution. The Aircraft Tracking System, in particular, is a unique and valuable feature but most importantly for us, Private-Radar allows us to customize the solution to our needs.”

About Private-Radar

Private-Radar offers cloud-based solutions for flight schools and airclubs, currently trusted by over 100 partners around the world, including industry leaders Lufthansa Aviation Training and CAE. Private-Radar provides a complete suite of tools, streamlining every aspect of flight and ground training, from scheduling and billing to aircraft maintenance and student progress tracking. The system is easy to use and can be accessed from any internet-connected device.

About American Flight Schools

American Flight Schools are a group of like-minded flight schools and flying clubs working together to improve the industry as a whole, while providing superior flight training and aircraft rental at better pricing. Companies cannot operate in isolation, especially in the aviation industry, which is why we began working together over the last seven years to build a network of aviation companies to improve best practices in general aviation and to grow the number of successful and competent pilots. After all, we see no reason why flying cannot be both fun and affordable.

Source: Private-Radar
Photo Credit: Private-Radar

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Global Flight Training Group’s US Campus 16 New Employees in February

Global flight training group Skyborne which operates flight training bases in the United Kingdom and in Vero Beach, Florida, United States hired 16 new employees, its largest hiring class yet, ready to start for this month of February at its US base of operations.

Earlier in January 2024 Skyborne signed a letter of intent with Bye Aerospace for a further 30 eFlyer all-electric training aircraft. The commitment builds on Skyborne’s 2020 order of 10 eFlyers, with a total of 40 aircraft now set to join the academy’s US fleet in Vero Beach, Florida. This is in addition to its increasing Piper Aircraft fleet – receiving the second out of 11 new Piper Pilot 100i in February 2024.

Source: Skyborne
Photo Credit: Skyborne

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US Flight School Extends Annual Flight Training Scholarship Application to April 30, 2024

North Carolina, United States based flight training organisation Blue Line Aviation extends applications for its annual Fly Right Scholarship to April 30, 2024.

The annual Fly Right Scholarship is dedicated to supporting 2024 Johnston County, NC and Polk County, FL public high school graduates in pursuing their aviation dreams.

The scholarship recognizes two individuals with outstanding personal ethics, character, and a commitment to positive community contributions, as nominated by teachers and peers. The top two applicants, one from Johnston County, NC and one from Polk County, FL, will be awarded the $100,000 scholarship for use at Blue Line Aviation, while additional recipients will receive substantial tuition reductions for the Career Pilot Program.

The top applicant will be awarded a $100,000 scholarship, 2nd-5th place applicants will each receive $15,000 off the Career Pilot Program, and 6th-10th place applicants will receive $7,500 off the Career Pilot Program at Blue Line Aviation.

Eligible candidates must obtain a 1st class FAA Medical, be proficient in English, and be 18 years old by 7/1/2023. Factors such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, religion, nationality, and socioeconomic status will not be considered.

Source: Blue Line Aviation
Photo Credit: Blue Line Aviation

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