Market Intelligence: North America
Regional Aircraft Manufacturer ATR Announces 2024 Appointment for Head of Region Americas and Managing Director & President ATR Americas, Inc.
ATR, the world’s number one regional aircraft manufacturer, appointed Christopher Jones as the company’s Head of Region Americas, effective 1 July 2024 and Managing Director & President ATR Americas, Inc., effective 1 August 2024.
In this role, Christopher reports to Alexis Vidal, Senior Vice President Commercial and is based at ATR facilities in Miami, Florida.
Christopher comes to ATR with over 30 years of commercial success in aircraft sales, and has held senior leadership positions with Airbus, Bombardier, and British Aerospace. He joins us from Texas-based Aero Design Labs, a company which designs, develops, and certifies drag reduction kits, generating fuel savings for commercial aircraft. As Chief Commercial Officer, Christopher spearheaded the company’s path to revenue including securing a strategic partnership with Delta Air Lines.
Prior to Aero Design Labs, Christopher was the Senior Vice President Customers for Airbus North America, where he was responsible for all sales and commercial strategy in the region covering some of the world’s largest passenger and freight airlines. His career at Airbus spanned 20 years, including sales of the A330neo, A350, A321neo/LR/XLR and A220.
At Bombardier, Christopher led the North American Sales campaigns for the C-Series (A220), which led to commitments from JetBlue and Breeze, as well as additional sales of the CRJ-900 to Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Through his time at British Aerospace and Bombardier, Christopher has established a well-founded knowledge of the regional airline sector.
Christopher has developed long-term, trusting relationships with airline customers, suppliers, lessors and consultants and operates with a high degree of integrity. He enjoys building customer centric teams as well as developing talent through their aerospace careers. He came to the USA in 1990, as a commercial apprentice with British Aerospace in Hatfield, England, having completed his education in Business and Finance at the University of Hertfordshire.
As Head of Region Americas and Managing Director & President ATR Americas, Inc., Christopher will play a pivotal role in developing ATR in the region, especially in the US, and supporting the company’s customers.
About ATR
ATR is the world number one regional aircraft manufacturer with its ATR 42 and 72, the best-selling aircraft in the below 90-seat market segment. The unifying vision of the company is to accelerate sustainable connections for people, communities and businesses, no matter how remote. Flown by some 200 airlines in over 100 countries, ATR aircraft opened 150 new routes in 2023, facilitating the development of territories and enabling access to crucial services like healthcare and education. Thanks to ATR’s focus on continuous innovation and the intrinsic efficiency of the turboprop technology, ATR aircraft are the most advanced, versatile, cost-effective and lowest-emission regional aircraft on the market, emitting 45% less CO2 than similar-size regional jets. In January 2022, we flew the first ever commercial aircraft using 100% SAF in both engines. ATR is a joint-venture between Airbus and Leonardo.
Source: ATR
Photo Credit: ATR
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US University Announces 2024 Appointment for Head of Aviation Department
In its mission to become a leading institution for aerospace and technology talent development, Kansas State University Salina has appointed Tysen Pina as the new department head of aviation.
As the department head, Pina will oversee the aviation program, focusing on expanding industry-relevant academic offerings, strengthening alumni and industry partnerships, enhancing safety management and strategically positioning the program for future success.
Having retired from the U.S. Air Force, Pina brings more than 21 years of aviation experience. His expertise spans program management, process improvement, strategic planning, aviation training and leadership. Pina plans to leverage K-State Salina’s rich aviation history of excellence and build upon the foundation that has already been laid over the past 33 years under the Kansas State University system and previously, with the campus leading in aviation training since the 1960s.
“My heart is in all things aviation, building organizations and pouring into people and making them better every day,” said Pina. “I knew that once my time in the Air Force was over, I knew I wanted to be in aviation. When I first met the K-State Salina faculty, their connection and excitement really shone through. This campus and the spirit that it has really motivated me.”
Additionally, as the aviation industry continues to see major transitions in its hiring practices, needs and criteria, K-State Salina is committing itself to supporting all learners through educational offerings that will set its students up to impact the industry.
“We are committed to providing quality education to all learners – whether they are looking for a certificate or associate, bachelor’s or a master’s degree,” said K-State Salina CEO and dean Alysia Starkey. “With Tysen’s focus on safety, excellence and mentorship, K-State Salina graduates will continue to be highly sought-after professionals, ready to excel in the ever-changing industry regardless of their career entry point.”
Pina holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a master’s degree in business organization and leadership from the University of Kansas.
His distinguished Air Force career includes roles such as commander for the 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron with E-3G AWACS aircraft; director of operations for 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron with E-8C JSTARS aircraft, wing inspector general with the 116th Air Control Wing; regional engagement strategist for Air Force Central Command in Qatar; and assistant director of operations for the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base.
Pina has flown over 100 combat missions. After having moved more than 12 times for his career, he is ecstatic to be able to call Salina home for a long time.
Source: Kansas State University
Photo Credit: Kansas State University
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US Based Alaska Airlines Chooses Training Management System Solutions Provider Qualtero
Alaska Airlines, one of the largest airlines in North America, has chosen Fox TMS to streamline and optimize its AQP Program along with resource management, scheduling optimization, qualification management, and performance evaluation processes.
One of the key highlights is the extensive system utilization by Alaska and Horizon pilots and cabin crew, empowering them with user-friendly interfaces and advanced functionalities to streamline their tasks and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
“We are honored to be selected by Alaska to support their AQP program and related operations,” said Yuval Sive, VP of Sales at Qualtero. “Our solution is tailored to meet the specific needs of airlines like Alaska, providing them with a comprehensive platform to manage their qualifications, resources, and performance effectively. We look forward to our partnership with Alaska to drive operational excellence and innovation.”
Source: Qualtero
Photo Credit: Qualtero
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Virtual Reality Pilot Training Solution Provider VRpilot Selected by Canadian Operator to Enhance Boeing 737 Training
Nolinor Aviation, the largest charter airline of Canada, has contracted VRpilot to deliver their interactive cockpit procedure training platform, VRflow, to support its Boeing 737 training operations. Operating both the Original, Classic, and NG versions of the 737, Nolinor will receive customized training solutions for all their variants.
Rudy Egeileh, Training Manager at Nolinor Aviation says: “Our airline operates the largest fleet of 737-200’s in the world. While these aircraft are vital to our operations, we want to ensure that our crew receive top-tier training in line with industry standards. With VRpilot’s solution, we’re bridging the past and the future by using cutting edge experience that breathes new life into our airframes, ensuring their continued and safe operation in the skies.”
Thor Paulli Andersen, Partner at VRpilot: ”Taking full advantage of the flexibility of our VRflow platform, we’re excited to deliver a procedure training solution to Nolinor that will match their actual aircraft one-to-one. This partnership epitomizes the value of our customized solutions, helping operators of aging, unique, or specialized aircraft to continue their operation well into the future.”
Nolinor has selected the Pico 4 Enterprise headsets to run VRpilot’s software.
About Nolinor
Founded in 1992, Nolinor Aviation is a leading provider of specialized commercial charter flights. The airline operates across Canada, the United States, and various international destinations. Nolinor Aviation is recognized for its commitment to safety in both its equipment and services. As a private company, Nolinor Aviation (IATA code N5) is wholly owned by the Prud’homme family trust. The company has established a strong presence in the charter flight sector, offering tailored services to meet diverse transportation needs.
About VRpilot
VRpilot is a leading provider of virtual reality training solutions for the aviation industry. Its innovative VR technology is designed to enhance training by offering realistic, immersive experiences that improve skills and knowledge in a safe and controlled environment.
Source: VRpilot
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Low-Cost US Airline Issues Furlough Notices to Over 200 Pilots in 2024
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Flight School Resource and Training Timeline Forecasting Tool, Aeroplanned, Releases 3rd ‘Excellence in Pilot-Training Planning’ Video
Aeroplanned, the pioneering resource planning platform for flight training, has launched a new video series to showcase its offering to the different pilot training industry stakeholders.
“Aeroplanned is relatively new and unique in the industry, which can make it challenging to explain its full scope. Our key focus is to seamlessly connect the pilot training pipeline, ensuring smooth student progress and optimal outcomes for all involved. But what does that actually look like?
We thought it would be good to showcase some of our favourite features and how they tackle significant issues within the flight training industry.
Check out the second video in the series – Resolving delays and finishing students on time
Aeroplanned in the 3rd series highlighted the customizable ‘Tags’ and ‘Flags’ – to highlight student needs and set essential deadlines.
You can watch the video here.
Source: Aeroplanned
Photo Credit: Aeroplanned
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Leading UPRT Training Provider, Aviation Performance Solutions, Awards 2024 UPRT Scholarship
United States headquartered Aviation Performance Solutions (APS) is pleased to announce that the 2024 APS Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) Scholarship has been awarded to Dylan Jamison, a Professional Flight major at Arizona State University.
Each year, APS offers a scholarship for a Professional Pilot Upset Training program to deserving pilots just embarking on their aviation careers. APS has successfully trained 1000’s of professional pilots in fully comprehensive upset recovery skill development, more than any other training organization. APS offers comprehensive LOC-I solutions with industry-leading web-based, on-aircraft, and full-flight simulator upset recovery and prevention training programs.
Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (UPRT) is dedicated pilot training developed specifically to mitigate the risk of Loss of Control In-flight (LOC-I), aviation’s biggest threat to air safety. UPRT trains pilots to develop the often counter-intuitive skills necessary to recognize and prevent or recover from an unexpected airplane upset. In addition to helping pilots develop these life-saving skills, UPRT also helps pilots improve general manual handling skills and develop mental strength. Upset Prevention and Recovery Training saves lives, and it also looks great on a resume. Pilots with Upset Prevention and Recovery Training can show not only that they are specially trained and prepared for an unexpected upset situation, but also that they are dedicated to safety as well as excellence in flying.
Source: APS
Photo Credit: APS