Philippines – Topflite Academy, a licensed aviation training organisation based in Pasay City, has entered into an official partnership with Airworks Aviation Academy, a Cebu-based training provider, to deliver Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT).
Source: Topflite Academy
Philippines & Australia – Philippine Airlines (PAL) Aviation School, relaunched in early 2025 through a strategic partnership with Airways Aviation, has formally deployed 14 cadet pilots from its AO Class 2025 Alpha to Australia for advanced flight training, in alignment with the flag carrier’s expanding fleet strategy.
A send-off ceremony was held on September 28, 2025, at the Lucio K. Tan, Jr. Center, attended by PAL officials and cadets’ families, marking the first international deployment under the renewed PAL-Airways Aviation collaboration.
After completing their initial theoretical coursework in the Philippines, the cadets will proceed to Airways Aviation’s Gold Coast campus in Australia to undergo practical flight training.
PAL Senior Vice President – Operations Group, Capt. Roland Narciso, reaffirmed the school’s legacy and commitment to high training standards, highlighting the added value brought by the partnership with Airways Aviation.
The PAL Aviation School, established in the 1960s, has trained over 1,000 pilots, serving as a key talent pipeline for both PAL and the broader Philippine aviation sector.
The relaunch and cadet deployment support PAL’s fleet expansion plan, which includes the delivery of nine Airbus A350-1000s (2025–2028) and thirteen Airbus A321neos starting in 2026.
Statements
Source: Philippine Airlines
Photo Credit: Philippine Airlines
Global – Flight school management software provider FlightLogger has rolled out a new feature set aimed at increasing training visibility and reducing administrative burdens. The platform’s latest update introduces two new “Days Since Last Training” widgets within its Business Insights module, targeting both flight and ground training activity.
The new widgets provide real-time insight into student activity by tracking the number of days since each cadet’s last flight or ground session.
Designed for flight schools, universities, and training centers managing high cadet volumes, the tools support early identification of inactive students, ensuring timely intervention and continuous training momentum.
Benefits include streamlined oversight, reduced manual check-ins, improved student throughput, and better scheduling efficiency.
The widgets require activation of the Business Insights module and are available without additional complex setup or retraining.
FlightLogger emphasizes that these enhancements are intended to refine existing workflows, not overhaul them, offering clarity for instructors and leadership alike.
Source: FlightLogger
Global – The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has rejected a proposal to raise the mandatory pilot retirement age from 65 to 67, following deliberations at its 42nd Assembly, held from September 23 to October 3, 2025.
The proposal was submitted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and supported by numerous airlines seeking relief from a regional specific global pilot shortage.
IATA’s position emphasized that extending the retirement age would enable operators to retain experienced pilots longer while mitigating training pipeline bottlenecks.
However, ICAO member states opposed the measure, citing concerns around aviation safety and age-related health risks, and ultimately voted to maintain the current age cap.
As a result, pilots aged 65 and above remain prohibited from operating international commercial flights, consistent with ICAO’s standing international standards.
Source: ICAO
Philippines – Cebu based flight training organisation Airworks Aviation Academy, which is the official abinitio cadet flight training partner of Cebu Pacific, is currently in discussion with multiple aircraft manufacturers as part of its fleet modernisation and expansion initiative. The flight training group’s President Vincent Charles Ong visited France headquartered aircraft manufacturer Elixir Aircraft over the last week to evaluate the aircraft for potential addition to Airwork’s current Cessna Aircraft and Piper Aircraft fleet.
Source: Airworks Aviation Academy
Malaysia — HM Aerospace (HMA) has expanded its training fleet with the delivery of four new Diamond DA40 NG aircraft, enhancing its cadet training capacity and modernising its fleet mix.
With this addition, HMA’s current fleet now includes 11 DA40 TDIs, 5 DA42 TDIs, and 4 DA40 NGs.
The maiden test flight of the new DA40 NGs was conducted on 17 September by Head of Training Capt. Abu Bakar and Chief Flight Instructor Capt. Naveed Abdullah, ensuring compliance with safety and performance standards.
The DA40 NG, powered by an Austro AE300 engine, provides fuel efficiency, advanced avionics, and reliability, making it a preferred choice for ab initio training.
Earlier this year Meritus College hosted a commencement ceremony for approximately 20 new cadets enrolled in the HM Aerospace Diploma in Aviation & CPL/IR, marking the formal start of their pilot training journey. Both organizations are subsidiaries of Halim Mazmin Group. YBhg. Tan Sri Halim Mohammad, Executive Chairman of Halim Mazmin Group, attended to officially receive and inspire the cadets.
HM Aerospace was established 20 years ago, and the academy has graduated some 2,400 pilots who are flying with many of the world’s airlines today.
About HM Aerospace
HM Aerospace Sdn Bhd (HMA) is Malaysia’s Premier Flight Training Academy providing world-class training and facilities for cadet pilots. As a member of the Halim Mazmin Group, HMA has the capacity to train a minimum of 200 cadet pilots per year at its Langkawi facilities.
Source: HM Aerospace
