Latest news with #pilottraining
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Stockton Sixth Form College starts new aviation course
A college course will try to make aviation more inclusive and tackle the shortage of pilots, instructors have Sixth Form College is offering a new programme, designed with large airlines such as Boeing and British Airways, on Teesside from can learn skills in an inhouse cockpit, the interior of a Boeing 737 cabin, and a flight Noel Dennis, director of business development at the Atomix Eductional Trust which oversees the college, said students would be trained to go and "shine in an interview" with major airlines. "Our students here at Stockton Sixth Form College in these wonderful facilities will be taught by a new teacher who has 17 years as an airline pilot," he said."They will learn all aspects of aviation operations and there will be lots of field trips."Our unique offer here is that we have a Piper Warrior simulator an actual 50-year-old aeroplane cockpit." Pupils from Errington Primary School in Marske recently visited the college and said they were amazed by the simulation cockpit.A couple were even "definitely" keen on working with planes when they got Nichole Munro, chief executive officer at Atomix Educational Trust, said the course demonstrated a commitment to "bring world-class opportunities to the Tees Valley".The International Air Transport Association forecasts global passenger numbers will exceed pre-pandemic levels by 2025, which they believe will fuel a surge of demand for skilled aviation course is a partnership between Aviation Generation, a not for profit organisation which aims to get skilled workers in the industry, and Stockton Sixth Form college. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Qatar Aeronautical Academy, Qatar Airways sign cooperation agreement
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Aeronautical Academy (QAA) and Qatar Airways signed an agreement during the Paris International Air Show in France. On the sidelines of the exhibition, a pilot training agreement accredited by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was signed between QAA, represented by Director-General of QAA HE Sheikh Jabor bin Hamad Al-Thani, and Qatar Airways Group, represented by Group CEO Eng. Badr Mohammed Al Meer. The academy is expected to train approximately 750 students over five years, opening promising horizons for joint cooperation, exchange of expertise, development of national competencies in the aviation sector, and creating outstanding opportunities for young people wishing to join this field. Senior Vice President of Operations at Qatar Airways Captain Khalid Issa Al Hammadi said that this agreement reflects the ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of aviation professionals. Investment in the future of operations includes partnerships with leading global institutions and support for young talent to obtain the training and opportunities necessary to succeed in this dynamic industry. He expressed the group's pride in supporting initiatives that promote innovation, knowledge sharing, and long-term career growth in the advanced aviation sector. Al Hammadi noted that this agreement embodies Qatar Airways' dedication to investing in the nation's citizens and residents, the future generations, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar Airways' long-term strategy. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
CBC
24-06-2025
- CBC
Manitoba flight school now barred from training pilots put students in 'significant danger': whistleblower
A Manitoba flight school was banned from training pilots "in the interest of public safety," Transport Canada says, more than a year after a former instructor came forward with allegations the school failed to follow aviation rules and put students in "significant danger." Transport Canada cancelled the flight training unit operator certificate of Gimli-based LS Airways Flight Academy on Nov. 19, 2024. The federal government department said in an email to CBC News that the certificate cancellation was a "serious action," and is only taken when oversight and monetary penalties do not lead to compliance. Wayne Liu said he and several other students alerted authorities about safety concerns at the school. They decided to report the school to Transport Canada in September 2023, he said. "I really hope this [doesn't] happen again to other students," Liu said about why he spoke up. WATCH | Gimli flight school put students in danger, whistleblower claims in lawsuit: Lawsuits allege Manitoba flight school endangered students 7 minutes ago Duration 2:39 His lawsuit is one of four filed against the school in the past year alleging that the Gimli flight school faked logs of flying hours, told students to fly with jerry cans of gasoline on board, altered maintenance records and exploited students. The school's owner, Noura Gharib, declined to be interviewed. She said in a phone call with CBC she intends to fight the revocation. 'So regretful': student Liu first enrolled at the school to convert a U.S. flight instructor licence into a Canadian one, and taught at LS Airways for about a month in 2023 after passing a flight test. But Liu says he should never have gotten the instructor rating, because LS Airways did not give him the number of flight hours needed to qualify for the certification in Canada. The owner "never put me on the flight schedule," Liu said. "I [told] her … even though I have some experience, we still need to practise and meet requirements for the exam. Until two or three days before the flight test, she still never flew with me and [faked the] hours on the PTR." "PTR" stands for pilot training record, a logbook required to obtain pilot permits and ratings. I was telling myself, 'Hey, I shouldn't do this.' - Wayne Liu, former LS Airways flight instructor A pilot must complete a minimum of 30 hours of dual flight instruction (training where a certified instructor is in the aircraft) for a Class 4 instructor rating, among other requirements. Applicants receive some credits if they previously held that rating — through foreign accreditation, for example. In lawsuit documents filed on May 23, 2025, Liu alleges that Gharib instructed him to record false numbers on the training record. He said he needed 15 flight hours to qualify for the licence, but got just over one hour with a student — not a certified instructor. "I was telling myself, 'Hey, I shouldn't do this,'" he said. "I accepted her wrongful instruction.… I was so regretful I did those wrong things." Company fined more than $46K Liu, from Taiwan, trained as a pilot in the U.S. and taught at a flight school in Georgia before coming to Canada, planning to eventually settle in the country. He was under a lot of stress to get his Canadian instructor's licence because he wanted to get a job in aviation and then bring his family to live with him, he said. Liu said that after he came forward, government officials told him his instructor rating was no longer valid and that he had to go to a different flight school to get it back. The school "took all my savings," he said. The lawsuit says LS Airways wrongfully accepted $15,495.54 in tuition payments. "I was expecting like, hey, just follow the rules, go to a flight school, get my instructor rating … so I can get more hours, then moving on to maybe charters." Liu now wants the money he paid for tuition at LS Airways back, so he can reapply for the training he needs to become an instructor in Canada. "Because of this school, I feel so depressed," he said. "It's like I couldn't complete my plan — wasted money and time here." A public post from Sept. 9 on Transport Canada's website shows the flight school — identified as 10113158 Manitoba Ltd., its business registry number — was fined $28,500 for three counts of violating Canada's aviation regulations. The violations are related to transporting people or cargo without being certified to do so, operating an aircraft without proper registration and failing to meet personnel record requirements. The charges stemmed from incidents between July and August of 2023, according to a decision issued by Transport Canada last May, which mentions the school didn't keep proper records for Liu as an assigned flight instructor. The fines were outstanding as of Jan. 25, and the school had not filed for a review, federal court documents say. The unauthorized transport service violation is related to operations from Gimli to Island Lake and Little Grand Rapids in eastern Manitoba on July 24, 2023. This month, Transport Canada made two more violations public. In March 2024, the company let an aircraft take off when it had not been maintained in accordance with an approved maintenance schedule, or in accordance with "airworthiness limitations," according to Transport Canada. The two violations resulted in $18,000 in additional fines. In his lawsuit, Liu alleges the school required students to keep "incorrect maintenance paperwork" that left out operational time used to calculate oil changes. Liu's lawsuit also alleges LS Airways directed students to travel to a flight test in Lindsay, Ont., with five 20-litre jerry cans of fuel in the cabin to avoid charges at the Lindsay airport. The lawsuit calls that a "serious safety violation" that exposed students to "significant danger." No statement of defence has been filed, and the allegations haven't been tested in court. Lawsuits filed by 3 other students LS Airways advertised itself as a "designated learning institution-registered Canadian flight school" on its now-unavailable website. The designated learning institution, or DLI, status allows Canadian schools to host international students. A spokesperson for the provincial government, which manages designated learning institutions in Manitoba, said in an email the province revoked LS Airways' DLI status on March 18, 2024, following an investigation launched in January of that year. The spokesperson said the investigation found there had been an unreported change in ownership. Since the designation is non-transferable between owners, the school's DLI status was revoked. The ownership change had happened "several years earlier," the provincial spokesperson said. LS Airways applied for a new DLI status, but the application is presently paused, according to the spokesperson. "The department is prepared to resume its review once LS Airways has resolved any and all outstanding items with Transport Canada," the spokesperson said. The Canadian Civil Aircraft Register shows two Cessnas that once belonged to LS Airways were no longer owned by the school as of June. A lawsuit filed in December by another former LS Airways student claims he entered an agreement with Gharib to teach at the school once he got his instructor rating there. His suit alleges that Gharib unilaterally dismissed him after he complained about the services the school provided. The statement of claim also alleges, among other things, that Gharib falsified training records with another instructor who was not Liu. In a statement of defence, Gharib denied all allegations in the December lawsuit. Another lawsuit was filed on Feb. 20 by a different student, who claims she was employed as a part-time dispatcher at the school and was also unjustly dismissed after complaining. The student alleges she was not allowed to fly, despite paying $1,600 in fees. She claims she also had to pay for fuel out-of-pocket twice and wasn't reimbursed, and that she didn't get her money back after paying fees for a flight test she didn't complete. The student also said she was also never given a pilot training record, despite numerous requests. In another statement of defence, Gharib denied all the allegations in the February lawsuit, saying the student was never employed by the school. Gharib countersued the student for defamation, saying in court documents the student failed multiple flight tests and disclosed a "history of dangerous manoeuvres" at a previous school. And another lawsuit, filed by a student from Thailand on April 24, said that flight instructors at the school lacked valid teaching licences and had obtained them through processes "not evidently in compliance with" regulations. The school denied the allegation in a statement of defence. It said it "meticulously maintained" all required documentation, including instructor credentials and aircraft records, and that it conducted maintenance "strictly in accordance" with approved procedures. None of the allegations contained in the four lawsuits filed by students have been tested in court. Meanwhile, Liu said he would still like to bring his family, including his four-year-old child, to Canada, but his future is still up in the air. "I'm still struggling about my plan. I don't know what can I do," he said.
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Turkish Airlines expands simulator orders with HAVELSAN
Dubai: In line with its ongoing efforts to further strengthen its pilot training infrastructure, Turkish Airlines has placed an additional order for one Boeing 737 MAX Full Flight Simulator (FFS) from HAVELSAN to be delivered in January 2026. This new order, placed as part of the long-standing cooperation with HAVELSAN, demonstrates the national flag carrier's commitment to expanding its simulator fleet and enhancing its technological capabilities. This additional order stands as a concrete testament to Turkish Airlines' confidence in HAVELSAN and in domestically developed advanced technologies. Commenting on the new order, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof Ahmet Bolat, stated: ' This additional order reinforces our strategic collaboration with HAVELSAN, reflecting our ongoing commitment to providing world-class pilot training. By expanding our simulators with advanced and reliable technology, we ensure our pilots continue to deliver the exceptional safety and service standards that Turkish Airlines is renowned for.' HAVELSAN CEO Dr Mehmet Akif Nacar added: 'We are pleased to strengthen our partnership once again with Turkish Airlines through a new agreement for a third B737 MAX Full Flight Simulator. This continued trust from one of the world's leading airlines is a strong affirmation of our capabilities and commitment to excellence.' Under the agreement signed with HAVELSAN in 2018, Turkish Airlines originally planned to procure a total of eleven training devices consisting of three A320neo/ceo, two B737 MAX Full Flight Simulators (FFS) and six Flight Training Devices (FTD). As of today, Turkish Airlines successfully operates two B737 MAX, two A320neo/ceo simulators and one B737NG, which is the first procured simulator, produced by HAVELSAN, all certified to EASA Level D standards. In addition, the delivery of the last A320neo/ceo simulator as part of the previous agreement is scheduled in November 2025. The new order of B737 MAX FFS will be the seventh Full Flight Simulator in airline's fleet. Turkish Airlines remains committed to providing its pilots with top-level training opportunities through an advanced simulation infrastructure fully compliant with international civil aviation standards. Turkish Airlines, Inc. Media Relations About Turkish Airlines: Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines has a fleet of 485 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 353 worldwide destinations as 300 international and 53 domestics in 131 countries. More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on its official website or its social media accounts on Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram. About Star Alliance: Established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance, the Star Alliance network was founded on a customer value proposition of global reach, worldwide recognition, and seamless service. Since its inception, it has offered the largest and most comprehensive airline network, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the customer experience throughout the entire Alliance journey. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers 17,837 daily flights to over 1,160 airports in 192 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner Juneyao Airlines. Star Alliance Press Office: Tel: +65 8729 6691 Email: mediarelations@ Visit our website or connect with us on social media: About HAVELSAN HAVELSAN offers new generation of technologies from end to end with 42 years of experience in the field of defense, simulation, ICT, homeland security and cyber security.
South China Morning Post
02-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
China adds aerial refuelling to pilot training in move to boost combat readiness
China's air force has introduced aerial refuelling to its pilot training programme as the People's Liberation Army tries to step up combat readiness and long-range capabilities. Advertisement The move was highlighted in a report by state broadcaster CCTV on Friday that included footage from a PLA training video. It showed instructors from the PLA Air Force's Shijiazhuang Flight Academy piloting two J-10 fighter jets in a refuelling drill, supported by a YU-20 tanker. The J-10 – seen as China's answer to the American F-16 – has a two-seat variant for advanced fighter and strike training. Another variant, the J-10CE, was used by Pakistan to down French-made Rafale jets in combat with India's military near the disputed Kashmir region last month. The YU-20 tanker can offload up to 100 tonnes of fuel in a single sortie. Photo: Xinhua According to the CCTV report, the academy plans to expand the refuelling training in phases. It said the goal was to round out combat readiness training and better prepare pilots for operational requirements and the demands of the battlefield. Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor, said it was a significant step for the air force as it tried to cultivate real-combat capabilities from the earliest stage in a pilot's training. 'Previously, such training was limited to experienced operational units,' Song said. 'Now it's moving upstream into pilot education. That opens a new path for building a strategic air force with global reach.' Advertisement He said the programme would help pilots to develop 'a long-range operational mindset early in their careers'. 'It will reduce the interval between graduation and combat readiness, significantly boosting the military's ability to rapidly produce a battle-ready talent pool.'
