Archives: Market Intelligences

UK-Headquartered Pilot Training Group Leading Edge Aviation Hosts Airline’s Pilot Recruitment Team in December 2024

Oxford, United Kingdom – Leading Edge Aviation, which operates flight training bases in the United Kingdom and Spain, welcomed the TUI Airways Pilot Recruitment team this week, providing its students with a valuable opportunity to learn more about career prospects with the world-renowned travel company.

  • TUI Airways, part of TUI Group, operates in 180 regions worldwide with a workforce of 60,000 employees.
  • Leading Edge Aviation students gained insights into TUI’s operations and recruitment processes

Leading Edge Aviation has reached a significant milestone in 2024 with over 100 students have received conditional job offers from major UK airlines during their training. This achievement means that more than a quarter of their current students have been ‘tagged’ for future First Officer roles.

Source: Leading Edge Aviation
Photo Credit: Leading Edge Aviation

Related Posts

Middle Eastern Country Places December 2024 Order for 9 New Helicopters for Police Aviation Unit

Marignane, France – Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with His Excellency, Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior of Bahrain, for the purchase of nine H145 helicopters. These aircraft will be operated by the Police Aviation Command for law enforcement missions and emergency medical services in the kingdom.

“We are very proud that the Ministry of Interior of Bahrain has chosen to become a new member of the H145 worldwide community,” said Olivier Michalon, EVP for Global Business of Airbus Helicopters. “We are sure that the H145 will quickly become a valuable new asset for the Bahraini police. As a truly multi-role helicopter, the H145’s versatility makes it a key asset for public safety missions around the world and in the region. More than 60 H145s are already in service in the Middle East and demand for this type of helicopter continues to grow for a vast array of missions: emergency medical services, operations in the energy sector, law enforcement and utility missions,” he added.

The new version of Airbus’ best-selling H145 light twin-engine helicopter adds a new, innovative five-bladed rotor to the multi-mission aircraft, increasing the useful load of the helicopter by 150kg. The simplicity of the new bearingless main rotor design also eases maintenance operations, further improving the benchmark serviceability and reliability of the H145, while improving ride comfort for both passengers and crew.

In total, there are more than 1,700 H145 family helicopters in service, logging a total of eight million flight hours. Powered by two Safran Arriel 2E engines, the H145 is equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC) and the Helionix digital avionics suite. It includes a high performance 4-axis autopilot, increasing safety and reducing pilot workload. Its particularly low acoustic footprint makes the H145 the quietest helicopter in its class, while its CO2 emissions are the lowest amongst its competitors.

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus

Related Posts

South Pacific Airline Places Order for 2 Widebody Aircraft in December 2024

Paris, France – Aircalin, the international airline of the South Pacific French territory of New Caledonia, has disclosed an order with Airbus for two long-range A350-900 aircraft. This order will enable Aircalin to support fleet adaptation and the carrier’s long haul network expansion.

Currently the airline’s widebody fleet comprises two A330neo aircraft. The airline plans to configure its A350s in a three class premium layout offering accommodation for more than 320 passengers. This would include an enlarged business class and represent an increase in capacity of 15% compared with the A330neo.

“As a continuation of our long-standing partnership with Airbus, we have selected the A350-900 to join our fleet in the coming years. These aircraft are essential for operating our recently inaugurated Nouméa-Paris via Bangkok route. They will open the doors to very long-haul flights and enable Aircalin to pursue its development strategy,” said Georges Selefen, Aircalin CEO.

“We are pleased with Aircalin’s decision to add the A350 to its fleet. This will allow Aircalin  to further develop its potential and open up more long haul routes. The order is yet another endorsement of the A350 as the undisputed long-range leader, bringing fuel efficient service on some of the world’s longest networks, while offering passengers the highest levels of comfort” said Benoit de Saint-Exupery, EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft business.

The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient widebody aircraft in the 300-410 seater category. The A350’s clean sheet design includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort. Its new generation engines and use of lightweight materials bring a 25 per cent advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, compared to previous generation competitor aircraft.

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A350 aircraft is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus is targeting to have its aircraft up to 100% SAF capable by 2030.

At the end of November 2024, the A350 had won over 1,300 orders from 61 customers worldwide.

Source: Airbus
Photo Credit: Airbus

Related Posts

Angolan Operator Group Renews Pilot Training Partnership with Global Pilot Training Solution Provider CAE

Full flight simulator operator and pilot training solution provider CAE has shared that Angola headquartered Bestfly has renewed their training agreement with CAE for another 2 years. Bestfly, the largest BizAv operator based in Angola, will continue their training on Global Express, Gulfstream G550, Citation XLS, and Falcon 900B at CAE’s locations in Dubai, Dallas, UK, and New Jersey.

“We are proud to be their training partner of choice since 2022,” said CAE.

Source: CAE
Photo Credit: CAE

Related Posts

Norwegian Announces Partnership with 4 Flight Schools in December 2024

Norwegian has partnered with four key schools to train pilots to ensure future expertise and manpower in a critical industry. The agreement is a win-win for both Norwegian and the students who are offered jobs after graduation.

“It’s a good way for us to attract pilots, and the cooperation agreements allow us to get to know the students during their education. The students who are given the opportunity to be employed with us can start working directly after completing the course. At the same time, they will receive courses in type rating for the aircraft type we operate in Norwegian, as well as other necessary theory and further education courses,” says Guro Poulsen, Executive Vice President of People at Norwegian.

The cooperation agreements are important to conclude now, as it is expected that the global aviation industry will have an increasing need for pilots in the coming years. This is partly due to the fact that many current pilots are approaching retirement age, an increased demand for air travel, and that the costs of pilot training, which you still have to pay yourself, are increasing and become a financial barrier for many who want a career as a pilot.

Norwegian has entered into agreements with the flight schools:

  • Center Air Pilot Academy (CAPA) in Denmark
  • Lund University Trafikflyghögskolan (TFHS) in Sweden
  • OSM Aviation Academy in Norway
  • FTEJerez in Spain

All four are highly recognized pilot schools with a strong connection to the industry, modern aircraft fleets and experienced instructors that make the schools attractive to future pilots.

Anna Kjær Thorsøe, representative from the Center Air Pilot Academy (CAPA), says:

“We are very pleased with the collaboration with Norwegian. Center Air Pilot Academy has delivered pilots to Norwegian for many years, so we already know each other well. This strengthens our educational program and ensures that our students have a motivating and targeted educational journey. When an airline like Norwegian engages in pilot training, it both raises the standard in the industry and gives students a clear career path. For us as a pilot school, it is fantastic to be part of this process, where together we contribute to ensuring the expertise of the future in aviation.”

Pilot schools ensure qualified labour for aviation

The pilot training takes about 20 months. The students that Norwegian gets to know along the way, and who are deemed to be a good fit for the company, will be offered a job immediately after graduation.

“Aviation is critical infrastructure and is of great importance to society. It is important to ensure that the aviation industry has a stable supply of skilled employees in order to maintain excellence in the future. The aviation industry employs tens of thousands of people in the Nordic region – Norwegian alone employs almost 1,300 pilots, of which more than 200 of them are based in Denmark,” says Guro Poulsen.

Norwegian has around 800 employees in Denmark, making it both a large Danish workplace and the second largest airline in the country. The Norwegian Group, which consists of Norwegian and Widerøes Flyveselskap, has a total of 8,500 employees.

Source: Norwegian

Related Posts

Pilot Training Industry Supplier Feature – Elite Simulation Solutions

In this week’s AFM Pilot Training Leadership Interview Series we speak with Christopher Reville – Chief Commercial Officer at ELITE Simulation Solutions AG, a global provider of IFR train­ing soft­ware, flight con­trols and flight train­ing devices.

The conversation covers:

  1. Evolution and Product Range: ELITE Simulation Solutions, founded in 1987, began as a simulation software company and evolved into a global solution provider of flight training devices. They offer a wide range of products, from basic desktop simulators to advanced flight simulators for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, catering to civilian, military, and educational sectors.
  2. Customizable Solutions and Innovation: A key strength of ELITE is its ability to develop tailored solutions for clients, thanks to in-house control over both hardware and software. This agility enables the company to adapt quickly to specific customer needs, such as developing bespoke dual-pilot configurations or integrating unique avionics setups.
  3. Global Reach and Impact: With installations across the world, including in the US, Europe, Africa, and Asia, ELITE’s devices serve various organizations, from universities and flight schools to government aviation authorities. Recent projects include the delivery of an FNPT II simulator to Brno University of Technology in the Czech Republic, a Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD) for Cameroon’s Ministry of Interior Civil Aviation Authority, and an A320 FTD Level 4 simulator in Santiago, Chile.
  4. Commitment to Quality and Safety: ELITE emphasizes Swiss-engineered precision, ensuring high-quality flight models that meet and exceed regulatory standards. Their devices are designed to provide realistic training and enhance safety through accurate simulation of high-risk scenarios, thereby preparing pilots effectively.
  5. Industry Trends and Forward-Thinking Vision: The company is actively tracking trends like VR, mixed reality, and emerging aircraft types such as UAVs and EVTOLs. While cautious about adopting new technology, ELITE prioritizes meaningful advancements that improve training value, focusing on enhancing safety and cost efficiency for flight schools and aviation organizations.

For more information:

You can find all of the AFM.aero Pilot Training Industry Interview Episodes here.

To stay up to date and get notified about all of the latest episodes from AFM you can follow us through the below platforms:

Related Posts