easyJet reopens applications for 2024 Pilot Training Programme

The budget carrier easyJet has opened its renowned Generation easyJet Pilot Training programme, which takes aspiring pilots with little or no experience to the cockpit of an Airbus A320 commercial airliner in around two years as qualified co-pilot. Over 1000 new pilots are set to join easyJet by 2028 as part of a five year recruitment drive, with around 200 places now available this year. 

With still only around 6% of pilots worldwide being women, easyJet has been focused on tackling this industry-wide challenge for a number of years through initiatives including recruitment campaigns, its pilot school visits programme and Summer Flight School. 

As a result, 7.5% of easyJet’s pilots in the UK are women compared to the UK industry average of 6.5%, with around 300 women including 99 Captains now flying for the airline, which has continued to work on tackling stereotypes and misconceptions around the job and encouraging more women to apply. 

The Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme is now open for aspiring pilots to apply at Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme | CAE

Earlier this month the airline launched an online test which assesses some of the key skills required to become an airline pilot, after research revealed that half of Brits (50%) don’t know what qualifications are needed to become an airline pilot and learn to fly a commercial jet. 

To apply to easyJet’s Pilot Training Programme, aspiring pilots need to be aged 18 or over by the time they begin training and have a minimum of 5 General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) of Grade C or above (or equivalent), including Mathematics, Science and English language – no higher qualifications or degrees are required. 

Air Canada and CAE celebrate 5th anniversary of the Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship.....

Air Canada and CAE, two Montreal-based global aviation companies, today marked the fifth anniversary of the Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship and announced that applications for the 2024 edition of the Scholarship are now open.

Up to eight young Canadian women studying to become commercial pilots or aircraft maintenance engineers will be awarded scholarships to pursue their training in 2024. Of the eight, four recipients training to be commercial pilots will join the CAE Women in Flight program as ambassadors.

"As this scholarship goes into its fifth year, it is incredibly gratifying to see the accomplishments of previous recipients. These young women have realized their dreams and are soaring high in all regions of Canada. From the cockpit of a 737 to a flight instructor job, these scholarship recipients are wonderful role models. I am so proud of Air Canada and CAE's support for Canadian women in aviation," said Judy Cameron, Boeing 777 Captain at Air Canada (retired), and Director, Northern Lights Aero Foundation.

"It makes me, and everyone at Air Canada, extremely proud to see the success of many of our past recipients of the Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship. Already, some have achieved their goals of becoming commercial pilots or Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and I look forward to seeing their careers progress. And the future is bright not only for them, but the next group of recipients as we celebrate the fifth anniversary of this wonderful scholarship named after Air Canada's first female pilot. Congratulations to all," said Murray Strom, Senior Vice President, Flight Operations and Maintenance at Air Canada.

CAE selects Vienna for its new business aviation training centre.

The six-simulator centre is set to open in 2024

One of the globes leading aviation training specialists, CAE has announced that its new business aviation training centre will be in Vienna, Austria, with scheduled operations set to start in the second half of 2024. 

In addition, CAE will deploy the first Bombardier Global 7500 full-flight simulator (FFS) in Europe, making pilot training on this popular aircraft type more accessible and convenient for operators in the region.

"Vienna is the ideal location for CAE's new business aviation training centre in Central Europe. This new centre will be a game-changer for business aviation training in the region, offering programs on the region's most sought-after aircraft platforms in an immersive learning environment," said Nick Leontidis, CAE's Group President, Civil Aviation. "CAE Vienna is another example of the significant investments we are making to bring business aviation training closer to where our customers operate their aircraft."

CAE will initially operate six state-of the-art FFSs in Vienna, including the Global 7500, a Global 6000 Vision, and four yet-to-be-announced FFSs for business jets from leading manufacturers. The new 8,000-square-metre facility will have space for expansion with a capacity for up to nine FFSs and will be purpose-built to deliver the most advanced pilot training experience in Central Europe.

In addition to the Vienna training centre, CAE is expanding and optimizing its business aviation network around the world. In November 2022, the company launched business aviation training at CAE Singapore on a newly installed Gulfstream G650 FFS. In April 2023, it inaugurated its first West Coast business aviation training centre in Las Vegas, Nevada. Looking ahead, CAE will continue to expand its network with new training centres in Lake Nona, Florida and Savannah, Georgia set to begin operations in the second half of 2023. 

Frontier Airlines selects CAE for next-generation flight operations software

Frontier Airlines selects CAE for next-generation flight operations software

CAE Flight Operations Solutions announced that it has signed a 10-year agreement to equip Frontier Airlines with CAE's next generation of flight operations solutions. With implementation scheduled to begin later this year, CAE's cloud-based Operations Control, Crew Management and Flight Management solutions will support Frontier with the latest and most feature-rich operations software available today.

Frontier Airlines becomes the latest airline in North America to move to CAE's portfolio of next-generation solutions - the first since the acquisition of the Sabre AirCentre business in February 2022. CAE's solutions will enable Frontier to take advantage of the latest-available technology, driving step-change improvements in performance over legacy software in the optimization of flight plans, aircraft usage, and crew communication and engagement.

"We are thrilled to partner with CAE and begin integrating the latest versions of their industry-leading, comprehensive software solution," said Brad Lambert, Vice President, Flight Operations, Frontier Airlines. "As we have seen in the industry over the last few years, updating core operational software is imperative to optimize flight operations, identify flight planning efficiencies and more quickly manage disruptions and recovery."

CAE launches 2022 Women in Flight program with easyJet

CAE announced on the first day of Farnborough International Airshow 2022 that it is relaunching its Women in Flight scholarship program and expanding its reach with airline partners to create a movement that encourages young women to pursue a career as a commercial pilot.

As a global partner, easyJet has once again pledged its support for Women in Flight as the first airline to sign on for the 2022 program. easyJet will provide one European candidate access to their first employment opportunity and CAE will fund pilot training for the successful candidate. 

"The Women in Flight program demonstrates to young women that being a pilot is achievable and a wonderful profession," said Nick Leontidis, CAE's Group President, Civil Aviation. "Six women have already benefitted from the Women in Flight program since it was inaugurated in 2018, and with easyJet's continued support, the dreams of aspiring female pilots are one step closer to becoming reality."

"easyJet has long championed greater diversity across our business and the industry and we will continue to focus on challenging gendered stereotypes. Having doubled the number of female pilots flying with us in recent years, we are proud to have made progress, but we know there is still work to do. That's why we are delighted to be part of CAE's Women in Flight Scholarship once again," said easyJet's Chief Operating Officer David Morgan.

CAE and Volocopter Partner to Create the Global Air Taxi Pilot Workforce of Tomorrow

 - Groundbreaking training program to focus on safety and operationalization of eVTOL urban air mobility

- Volocopter, urban air mobility pioneer, teams up with CAE, global leader in aviation training, to develop an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) pilot training program in preparation for Volocopter's first eVTOL aircraft upcoming entry-into-service

- CAE commits to expanding its international training network to support Volocopter's growth and global pilot training with a forecasted investment of up to US$40 million

CAE, a global leader in aviation training, and Volocopter, the pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM), announced today the signing of a strategic partnership, subject to definitive agreement, to develop, certify, and deploy an innovative pilot training program for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) operations. A first in the industry, this eVTOL pilot training program will develop the pilot workforce of the future and ensure safe introduction of eVTOL operations globally by leveraging CAE's advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), as well as data analytics and Volocopter's leading understanding of requirements for integration into the UAM ecosystem.

 

Bombardier concludes sale of its business aircraft training unit to CAE

Bombardier concludes sale of its business aircraft training unit to CAE

Photo CAE

The Canadian firm Bombardier confirmed this week that it hand concluded the sale of its flight and technical training activities to CAE, for an enterprise value of $645 million. Once certain liabilities, fees, and closing adjustments have been deducted, the true earnings of the sale will be around $500. 

CAE is the training partner of choice of aviation professionals, airlines, large fleet operators, and aircraft manufacturers the world over. With 50+ training locations across the globe, CAE has the largest civil aviation network in the world.

“Bombardier and CAE share a deep commitment to providing outstanding support to their customers,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Vice President and General Manager, Customer Experience, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “Bombardier’s talented employees and strong relationships with clients, combined with CAE’s network and expertise, will elevate the customer experience. As CAE grows its core training business, Bombardier continues to expand its service offerings and dedicated support, each to the benefit of Bombardier Business Aircraft customers around the world.”