Market Intelligence: -Suppliers

Pilot Training Industry Supplier Feature – Padpilot

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series we speak with Nathan Gray – CEO at Padpilot, one of the world’s leading digital publishers of pilot training material for flight training organisations and aspiring pilots.

The conversation covers:

  • Introduction to Padpilot: Leading provider of digital aviation learning resources that has been producing educational materials since 2011 to support pilot training worldwide.
  • Padpilot’s Products & Innovations: Padpilot offers various courses: Foundation, PPL(A), PPL(H), ATPL(A) and ATPL(H) theory teaching and learning resources available on all devices, and AI-powered tools such as the Padpilot Briefing Room.  The company focuses on making aviation education more engaging through animations, simple English explanations, and 3D graphics.
  • Industry Partnerships & Market Presence: The company collaborates with over 160 Approved Training Organizations (ATOs) globally, including major players like Etihad Airways and Lufthansa. Its materials are available across different regulatory frameworks, including EASA and UK CAA.
  • Pilot Demand & Training Challenges: Nathan highlighted the growing global demand for pilots, estimating the need for 500,000–600,000 new pilots over the next decade. He emphasized the importance of maintaining high-quality training, addressing instructor shortages, and ensuring lifelong learning rather than rote memorization.
  • Future Growth & Investment Support: Padpilot’s acquisition by Rose Street Partners has provided the company with the resources to expand into new markets and accelerate its growth. With this investment, Padpilot aims to enhance its offerings, develop new training solutions, and continue innovating in aviation education.

For more information:

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Scotland’s Rubric Aviation Welcomes New Elixir Aircraft for Flight Operations

Scotland – Rubric Aviation has taken delivery of its new Elixir aircraft in La Rochelle, France, marking a significant milestone for Scotland and Elixir Aircraft. Rubric Aviation, will fly Elixir Aircraft for its Scottish center, the Fife Flight Centre at Fife Airport, Scotland.

About Rubric Aviation
Rubric Aviation is a Scotland-based aviation company specializing in flight training and aircraft operations.

Source: Rubric Aviation
Photo Credit: Rubric Aviation

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Flight Training Financing Provider Stratus Financial Secures $30 Million Credit Line to Expand Pilot Training Financing

USA – Stratus Financial LLC (“Stratus” or the “Company”), a leading provider of financing solutions for student pilots, announced the successful infusion of a new $30 million credit line to support the continued growth of its loan origination platform. This new funding will enhance Stratus’ ability to provide more accessible financial solutions to aspiring pilots seeking commercial flight training.

“We are thrilled to secure this new credit line, which will significantly strengthen our ability to support the growing demand for aviation education funding,” said Anthony Geraci, CEO and Co-Founder of Stratus. “This capital infusion will empower us to help more students pursue their dreams of flight training and contribute to the future of aviation. With this enhanced liquidity, we are well-positioned to expand our offerings and continue providing exceptional service to both students and flight schools.”

“With this new facility, Stratus continues to build an institutional-grade capital structure that supports both resilience and scalability,” said Alan Rios, CIO at Stratus. “This milestone underscores our strategic focus on broadening our capital partnerships, optimizing funding costs, and positioning Stratus for long-term success in private student lending.”

The new credit line further supports Stratus’ mission to deliver flight school financing programs to students across North America. Since its inception in 2020, Stratus has funded close to 800 loans and has established partnerships with more than 260 FAA-chartered flight schools. The company’s strategic focus on super-prime borrowers has set it apart in the consumer finance space.

“We’re excited to see our growth trajectory accelerate with this new capital infusion, which will directly benefit our students and flight school partners,” said Brandon Martini, COO and Co-Founder of Stratus. “With more funding available, we’re able to support the aviation industry’s rising demand for skilled pilots, offering flexible financial solutions to help students achieve their flight training goals faster and with greater ease.”

About Stratus Financial
Founded in 2020 by FAA Certified Flight and Ground Instructors, Stratus Financial is a consumer finance platform providing flexible and innovative educational funding solutions to students pursuing aviation education and training. Stratus is committed to supporting the success of both students and flight schools, with specialized programs designed for flight schools. Stratus aims to help aspiring pilots achieve their commercial flight training goals as quickly and efficiently as possible with private and unique loan programs.

Source: Stratus Financial

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Boeing Delivers 44 Aircraft in February – Maintaining Strong Start to 2025

USA – Boeing delivered 44 aircraft in February 2025, maintaining its January delivery pace and significantly outpacing the first two months of 2024. The company continues its recovery following last year’s complexities which had temporarily slowed production.

  • February 2025 deliveries: 44 aircraft, including 32 from the 737 family (31 MAX jets and one older model for Boeing’s defense division).
  • January 2025 deliveries: 45 aircraft, marking the highest total since December 2023.
  • Total deliveries in the first two months of 2025: 89 aircraft, compared to 54 in the same period in 2024.
  • Boeing is working toward reaching the FAA’s production cap of 38 737s per month, with executives confident in meeting this target in 2025.

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

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Diamond Aircraft Acquires Germany based eVTOL Developer Volocopter

Germany – Diamond Aircraft Industries, based in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, has integrated Volocopter with the company headquarter remaining in Bruchsal, Germany.

Diamond Aircraft is a subsidiary of Wanfeng Aircraft Division of Wanfeng Auto Holding Group Co., Ltd., and is an internationally renowned general aircraft manufacturer with over four decades of expertise operating internationally. The company’s reorganization of Volocopter will broadens its aircraft and business portfolio into the field of electric urban air transportation, while enabling Volocopter to reduce costs, retain a highly motivated and skilled workforce, and focus on achieving its certification milestones by 2025. The VoloCity, along with its next-generation variants and other models, will continue to evolve successfully over the long term, contributing significantly to the sustainable growth of the aviation industry.

Bin Chen, Chairman of Diamond Aircraft Group states: “The future of aviation is shaped by visionaries. Diamond’s broad portfolio is further strengthened by Volocopter, the VoloCity, and future models. Together, we are creating the foundation to further develop sustainable air mobility and strengthen Europe as an innovation hub in aviation.”

Tobias Wahl, insolvency administrator and partner at Anchor Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH, added, “Volocopter’s expertise and highly motivated team have consistently set benchmarks in the eVTOL industry. With Diamond Aircraft, we have found a strong strategic partner who will bild on this foundation. My special thanks go to the employees for their spirit and commitment. I am grateful that the team can carry on with their impactful work in the European economy.”

Source: Volocopter

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Varjo to Showcase Advanced VR/XR Training Solutions at IT2EC 2025 in Norway

Finland and Norway – Varjo, a provider of advanced mixed reality solutions, will showcase its latest VR/XR innovations for simulated training at IT²EC 2025, taking place from March 25-27. in Oslo, Norway Varjo will exhibit at booth D71, featuring cutting-edge mixed reality technologies for defense and aerospace training. Demonstrations will include:

  • TAC and drone operator training using chroma key technology by Inzpire
  • XR fixed-wing pilot trainer developed in collaboration with Dogfight Boss and Metrea.
  • Flight simulation in partnership with Adams Simulation.

About Varjo
Varjo, based in Finland, develops high-resolution virtual and mixed reality solutions for professional training and simulation, enhancing operational readiness across the defense and aerospace sectors.

Source: Varjo
Photo Credit: Varjo

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UK’s National Police Air Service Orders 7 Airbus H135 Helicopters for Fleet Renewal

United Kingdom – Airbus Helicopters has been selected by the UK’s National Police Air Service (NPAS) to supply seven H135 helicopters as the initial phase of its fleet renewal programme.

The firm order is the first output of a Framework Contract, signed with the BlueLight Commercial procurement agency, which confirms Airbus as the exclusive supplier of helicopters for NPAS for up to six years.

“With over 100 calls for air support each day, the National Police Air Service plays a unique and valuable role in saving lives, disrupting criminality and protecting communities. The aircraft we currently operate were transferred to NPAS from individual police forces when the national service was formed over 13 years ago and, as such, they are some of the oldest and most-flown aircraft of their type in any UK fleet.”

“We very much look forward to working with Airbus on this exciting project and anticipate receiving the first of our seven new aircraft in 2027,” said NPAS Chief Operating Officer and Accountable Manager Chief Superintendent Vicki White

“We are extremely proud to have been the sole provider of NPAS’ helicopters since its formation and we greatly appreciate the continued confidence it is showing by awarding Airbus Helicopters its first fleet renewal contract. It is a great honour for us to continue playing this critical role in the nation’s security,” said Richard Atack, Interim Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in the UK.

NPAS currently operates 16 H135 and four H145 helicopters from 14 locations on behalf of the 43 police forces in England and Wales. Airbus Helicopters in the UK additionally provides maintenance and support for the NPAS fleet which includes the most intensively used police helicopters in the world.

The new helicopters will be equipped with Airbus’ Helionix avionics system and one aircraft will initially be used to train NPAS pilots in the use of the new system which enhances safety and operational effectiveness by markedly reducing pilot workload.

More than 1,440 H135s are in service worldwide and have exceeded 7.5 million hours with over 320 customers.

About Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters is a leading global provider of rotary-wing aircraft for civilian, law enforcement, and military applications. The H135 is widely used in police, emergency medical, and utility missions, with over 1,440 aircraft in service worldwide, accumulating more than 7.5 million flight hours.

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus

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New York State Police Places 2025 Order for 4 Airbus Helicopters

USA – New York State Police has placed an order for an Airbus H160 and three H145 helicopters, making them the first law enforcement agency in the U.S. to add an H160 to their fleet. This announcement follows the agency’s order of two H145s in 2024 as New York State Police moves to replace their existing helicopters.

Originally formed in 1931, the New York State Police Aviation Unit provides services to police across the state, as well as lifesaving and environmental conservation services.

“New York State Police are setting a new standard in the law enforcement industry with the H160 which features the highest levels of innovation,” said Bart Reijnen, Head of the North America region at Airbus Helicopters. “These additions to the agency’s fleet will provide a major upgrade in safety and comfort, and New York residents will benefit from the helicopters’ reduced sound levels.”

The H160 is one of the world’s most technologically advanced helicopters, designed and built to deliver the highest levels of operational safety while providing unmatched comfort for rotorcraft in its class. Capable of performing wide-ranging missions including law enforcement, offshore transportation, search and rescue, private and business aviation, and emergency medical services, the H160 has entered into service in Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, U.K., U.S. and many other European countries.

The H145 family of helicopters has been a staple of the airborne law enforcement community for more than two decades, and has built a reputation for its exceptional capability and reliability. In total, there are more than 1,740 H145 family helicopters in service around the world, and more than 200 of those are used for public services and law enforcement missions. Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. The helicopter’s CO2 emissions are also the lowest amongst its competitors.

About Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters is a leading provider of rotary-wing aircraft for civilian, military, and law enforcement operations. The H160 and H145 models are widely used for their advanced technology, safety features, and operational efficiency in various missions worldwide.

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus

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