Market Intelligence: North America

Able Flight and SIU Aviation Hosts Aviation Program for Aspiring Pilots with Disabilities in 2025

Carbondale, Illinois, USA – Able Flight and SIU Aviation are again opening the skies to aspiring pilots with disabilities through their transformative 2025 flight training program. Now in its second year at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, the program welcomed five new students, each on a unique journey to earn a sport pilot certificate using specially adapted Vashon Ranger Light Sport aircraft. The program, which runs up to eight weeks, represents a rare and empowering opportunity for individuals with disabilities to experience the freedom of flight while gaining critical skills and confidence.

  • Aircraft: Two specially adapted Vashon Ranger Light Sport aircraft, donated by Able Flight

  • Certification goal: Sport Pilot License

  • Total prior Able Flight graduates: 98 (before 2025 cohort)

  • Program founder: Charles Stites, who transferred ownership of aircraft and committed funding to SIU for at least 7 years

Source: SIU Aviation
Photo Credit: SIU Aviation

Related Posts

Flight School Management Software Aviatize Unveils Most Powerful Platform Yet for Flight Schools

USA – Aviatize, the aviation management software company known for streamlining flight school and fleet operations, has launched Aviatize 4.0, its largest and most feature-packed release to date. Designed to make life easier for aviation professionals and administrators, the new version introduces powerful capabilities such as multi-location operations, real-time maintenance visibility, native FAA/TSA compliance management, and streamlined financial workflows — all integrated into a single, intuitive platform.

  • Multi-Location Planning & Management
    Manage multiple bases with full visibility into aircraft, instructors, scheduling, and reporting — no more juggling spreadsheets.

  • Smart Technical Issue Reporting (Squawks & Squeeks)
    Pilots can report technical anomalies directly from their devices, assigning urgency levels. Maintenance teams receive alerts instantly, eliminating delays and surprises.

  • Native FAA & TSA Document Management
    Store and manage compliance-critical documents — including Airman certificates, TSA verifications, endorsements, and FAA medicals — directly in the platform.

  • Upgraded User & Aircraft Management
    Enhanced admin tools let operators assign roles, update aircraft profiles, and control access rights with just a few clicks.

  • Real-Time Maintenance Visibility
    Maintenance status is now integrated into the booking workflow, showing what’s due, overdue, or grounded — before dispatch decisions are made.

  • Faster Payment Workflow
    From flight logging to invoicing and accounting sync, Aviatize 4.0 enables quicker, seamless billing and payment processing.

  • Pilot Expense Reimbursement Tools
    Pilots can now submit receipts and claim reimbursements for operational expenses directly within the system, reducing paperwork and delays.

“Join the Aviatize 4.0 Webinar to see the new features in action and learn how they can transform your daily operations.
When: June 25th, 2025 at 11:00 MST (20:00 CET)”
Register here.

Source: Aviatize
Photo Credit: Aviatize

Related Posts

Conair and Chinook Helicopters Launch 2025 $5,000 Scholarship for Women Interest to Obtain CPL

British Columbia, Canada – Conair and Chinook Helicopters have launched the Women in Commercial Aviation Scholarship, a CAD $5,000 award aimed at supporting aspiring female fixed-wing pilots in British Columbia. The scholarship is designed to promote gender diversity in the Canadian aviation industry and will be awarded during the Abbotsford International Airshow on August 9, 2025. Eligible applicants must demonstrate commitment to completing a Commercial Pilot Licence and provide evidence of their current enrollment and training progress.

About Conair
Conair Group Inc. is a Canadian specialty aviation company headquartered in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and one of the world’s leading providers of aerial firefighting aircraft and services.

About Chinook Helicopters
Chinook Helicopters is a renowned flight training school based in British Columbia, offering both rotary and fixed-wing pilot training programs with a focus on safety, professionalism, and career readiness.

Source: Chinook Helicopters
Photo Credit: Chinook Helicopters

Related Posts

USA based Simviz Labs Launches A320 FMS Trainer App for iPad Users

USA – Simviz Labs has officially launched its new A320 FMS Trainer app for iOS, now available for download on the App Store. Designed for pilots transitioning to airline operations, simulator instructors, and aviation professionals seeking to refine their Flight Management System (FMS) skills, the app offers an accessible and practical way to engage with real-world flight management scenarios. This digital solution marks a significant step in Simviz Labs’ mission to modernize FMS and automation training through mobile-first, hands-on tools.

  • Target users:

    • Pilots preparing for A320 type rating or airline transition

    • Simulator instructors needing an interactive briefing tool

    • Aviation professionals aiming to stay current on A320 FMS procedures

  • Key features include:

    • Practice with real-world route data

    • Comprehensive preflight setup modules

    • Authentic flight management scenarios

    • Fully accessible on iPad devices, anytime, anywhere

  • Simviz Labs invites airlines, ATOs, and training organizations to explore collaborative partnerships in modernizing FMS and autoflight instruction.

Source: Simviz Labs
Photo Credit: Simviz Labs

Related Posts

Hillsboro Aero Academy Cadets Progress to Line Training with Vietjet in 2025

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – based airline aviation training academy and full flight simulator training center Vietjet Aviation Academy (VJAA) has highlighted that its cadets which conducted their flight training at Hillsboro Aero Academy in Oregon, United States completed their type rating and are starting their line training with VietJet.

Oregon based flight school Hillsboro Aero Academy welcomed its first batch of six VietJet Cadets in April 2023 following a Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) approval in 2020.

Source: Vietjet Aviation Academy

Related Posts

CAE Defense and Security Signs MoU with Defense Conseil International at Paris Air Show 2025

France – At the International Paris Air Show, CAE and Defense Conseil International (DCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at exploring long-term cooperation in delivering cutting-edge training solutions to enhance global defence readiness.

  • The agreement reflects a shared commitment to joint innovation in military and pilot training across global defence forces.
  • CAE will contribute its expertise in synthetic environments, simulation technologies, and live flight training, reinforcing its position as a global leader in advanced training systems.
  • DCI brings to the partnership its operational and digital training capabilities, ensuring that the collaborative approach remains mission-oriented and adaptive to modern combat and defence demands.

Source: CAE
Photo Credit: CAE

Related Posts