Market Intelligence: -Suppliers

South African Flight Training Group Excellentia Airline Academy Adds 15 Aircraft Following Flight School Acquisitions

South Africa – Flight training group Excellentia Airline Academy (EAA) has announced the addition of 15 new aircraft to Excellentia’s flight line in the past 5 months.

In October EAA had announced the acquistion of both Aeronav Academy as well as Skyhawk Aviation, combining 2 long established flight training schools under the EAA umbrella, forming the fastest growing flight school in South Africa. The schools are based in both Lanseria and Grand Central (where EAA Head Office is located), giving excellent flexibility for flight training slots.

EAA combines the existing fleets of each school (primarily Cessna C-172’s, Pipers and Diamond aircraft currently), and then regularly adding new additional Sling 2 NGT aircraft every month, taking the aircraft training fleet from almost 30 currently to over 100 aircraft within the next 18 months, and 200 within 3 years. The Sling 2 NGT has a modern 100hp Rotax engine, spacious wide-view cockpit and a full suite of modern Garmin avionics. EAA’s trainers are ably supported by state-of-the-art flight simulators, allowing its students to obtain their CPL, and then be qualified to fly commercial aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320/321 families.

Source: Excellentia Airline Academy
Photo Credit: Excellentia Airline Academy

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Aeroplanned Engages U.S. Flight Schools on Training Efficiency at Flight School Association of North America 2026 Conference

California, USA – Aeroplanned, a flight training resource planning and training timeline forecasting software provider, has participated in the Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) Conference 2026 in Coronado, engaging with flight training organisations across the U.S. pilot training sector to discuss operational challenges and student success in pilot training delivery.

The company highlighted the importance of consistent training scheduling and resource alignment to support student progression and on-time program completion. Aeroplanned CEO Jen Liddle spoke on a conference panel focused on student success in pilot training, addressing how operational planning and pacing of training program’s directly impact student outcomes.

AFM previously reported that Aeroplanned has expanded internationally in its third year of operation and is now working with flight training organisations across 15 countries, including large-scale flight schools and its first airline customer using the platform to manage cadet pilot programme planning.

The company has also expanded its team, with Raphaël Pellissier joining to support business development, bringing experience from Airbus alongside operational insight as an active flight instructor. In addition, Sam Matthews is expected to join as a senior developer in early 2026 to support product development.

Aeroplanned has recently introduced several platform enhancements aimed at improving training visibility and planning accuracy for flight schools.

  • The “3-Month Tracking and Resource Planning Dashboard” provides a rolling forward view of student progress, cohort status and resource utilisation to identify bottlenecks or under-used capacity.

  • Additional features released in 2025 focus on improving data accuracy, including prompts that flag missing or outdated planning inputs, particularly supporting flight schools without dedicated resource planning teams.

Check out the video below to see how it 3 Month Tracking Forecast looks in action.

Source: Aeroplanned

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Acron Aviation Releases 2026 Guide on Scaling Airline Training Programs

Global – Acron Aviation has published a practical guide advocating hybrid pilot training delivery models, positioning integrated classroom simulation, remote learning, and optimized full flight simulator (FFS) utilization as a solution to projected global demand for 660,000 new pilots by 2044.

  • The company highlights key bottlenecks facing airline training departments:

    • High-cost full flight simulator time

    • Instructor shortages

    • Infrastructure constraints limiting scalability

  • The guide outlines a hybrid training framework combining:

    • Classroom-based simulation

    • Remote learning environments

    • Strategic FFS allocation

    • Flat panel and advanced training devices

  • The document includes:

    • A four-pillar training framework

    • A 12–18 month implementation roadmap

    • Performance metrics for tracking capacity and outcomes

    • Deployment risk factors and critical success considerations

  • The methodology is based on field implementation using Acron Aviation’s FMST, ETHOS, VFD, and flat panel training systems.

Check out the guide here.

Source: Acron Aviation
Photo Credit: Acron Aviation

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Swiss Helicopter Training Operator Adopts Automated Digital Logbook Integration in 2026

Switzerland – capzlog.aero AG, a Swiss-based digital pilot logbook provider, has entered into a partnership with Mountain Flyers 80 Ltd., a long-established Swiss helicopter operator and flight training provider, to integrate automated flight time data transfer into helicopter operations and training workflows.

  • Mountain Flyers 80 Ltd., founded in 1980, operates commercial helicopter services including aerial work, scenic and VIP flights, as well as professional pilot training from bases in Bern-Belp and Grenchen.

  • The partnership introduces an Auto-Import function between Mountain Flyers 80 Ltd.’s reservation and planning system and capzlog.aero’s digital pilot logbook platform.

  • Flight times are now transferred automatically and in a structured format, reducing manual data entry and administrative workload for pilots and training staff.

  • The integration supports fully digital and compliant record-keeping, aligning with regulatory requirements for pilot logbooks in commercial and training environments.

Source: capzlog.aero AG
Photo Credit: capzlog.aero AG

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Grob Aircraft Highlights Integrated Training Systems Ahead of Military Flight Training Conference in March 2026

Germany – Grob Aircraft, the military training aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Tussenhausen, has highlighted the strategic role of integrated pilot training systems in modern airpower environments ahead of Military Flight Training 2026 in Switzerland.

  • Grob positions its offering beyond aircraft delivery, focusing on integrated training systems that combine:

    • Advanced simulation.

    • Immersive 3D training environments.

    • Live flight training on the G 120TP turboprop trainer.

  • The G 120TP platform forms part of a broader system-level approach designed to prepare pilots before transition to frontline fighter aircraft.

  • Grob is a sponsor of Military Flight Training 2026, taking place in Switzerland from March 31 to April 2, reinforcing its presence in the global defense training dialogue.

AFM Readers Receive 10% Discount for Military Flight Training 2026 in Switzerland – AFM.aero

Source: Grob Aircraft SE
Photo Credit: Grob Aircraft SE

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Flight Training Management Software FlightLogger Launches Integrated Ground Training LMS

Global – FlightLogger, the flight school management software solution provider, has launched its fully operational Ground Training Learning Management System (LMS), integrating ground school delivery directly into the same workflow as flight training operations.

  • The Ground Training LMS is now embedded within FlightLogger’s core operational system rather than functioning as a parallel or add-on tool.

  • Ground training can now be:

    • Assigned to individual students or entire classes.

    • Scheduled directly within the booking workflow.

    • Logged using the same process as flight training.

    • Tracked against syllabus time with fulfillment visibility.

  • The release integrates ground and flight training under one structured workflow:

    • Assign

    • Schedule

    • Deliver

    • Log

    • Review

  • A new Fulfillment column within the student program overview provides visibility into attendance measured against syllabus time, strengthening oversight for training managers.

  • Updated progress tracking enhances clarity on whether students are progressing in alignment with program requirements.

  • The system is positioned for:

    • Multi-class training organizations.

    • Schools coordinating multiple instructors.

    • Academies aligning ground and flight phases.

    • High-volume training environments requiring standardized oversight.

  • FlightLogger is offering five months of free access to the Ground Training LMS for existing clients until August 1, 2026, allowing operational evaluation without additional cost.

  • Planned enhancements later in 2026 include:

    • Multiple-choice testing functionality.

    • Self-study lesson modules.

    • Integrated syllabi combining ground and flight training phases.

Source: FlightLogger
Photo Credit: FlightLogger

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Military Training Aircraft Manufacturer Grob Aircraft Appoints Carsten Elsebrock as Chief Sales Officer

Germany – Grob Aircraft SE, the Bavaria-headquartered military training aircraft manufacturer headquartered in Tussenhausen, has appointed Carsten Elsebrock as Chief Sales Officer, strengthening its global military aviation and training market leadership.

  • Carsten Elsebrock brings more than 30 years of experience in military aviation and training. A former officer in active flight service, Elsebrock has direct operational insight into military pilot training and readiness requirements.

  • In his new role as Chief Sales Officer, Elsebrock will lead Grob’s global sales organization, focusing on strengthening customer relationships and expanding the company’s position in the military training market.

Statements

  • “With strong conviction and passion, I am excited to take on my new role as Chief Sales Officer at Grob Aircraft. As a former officer in active flight service, I know from personal experience the central importance of education and training for military operational readiness. I also bring many years of industry experience in various leadership roles within Military Aviation & Training. I am particularly looking forward to working with the outstanding people at Grob and with our customers worldwide. With the innovative strength of our team and our partnership with Helsing, I see an excellent future ahead of us. Together, we will shape the next generation of military training.” – Carsten Elsebrock

Learn more about Grob Aircraft SE or connect with Carsten Elsebrock via his LinkedIn profile here.

Source: Grob Aircraft SE
Photo Credit: Grob Aircraft SE

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Türkiye’s HAVELSAN Completes GÖKSİM Full Flight Simulator for GÖKBEY Helicopter

Türkiye – Ankara headquartered flight simulator manufacturer HAVELSAN has completed GÖKSİM, the indigenous Full Flight Simulator (FFS) developed for Türkiye’s national general-purpose helicopter GÖKBEY, delivering a 6-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) motion-based training system that will support pilot qualification and mission readiness with certified flight-hour credit.

  • GÖKSİM is a 6-axis (hexapod) Full Flight Simulator replicating the GÖKBEY cockpit and flight characteristics with high-fidelity motion cues including turbulence, wind resistance, takeoff vibration and manoeuvre accelerations.

  • The simulator was developed entirely with domestic resources, including:

    • Core simulation software.

    • Image generator and visual systems.

    • Airport databases.

    • 3D visual modelling libraries.

  • The indigenous software architecture creates a reusable virtual environment library applicable to future national platforms such as KAAN, HÜRJET and ATAK-2.

  • The simulator is positioned to support both domestic operators (Turkish Armed Forces, Gendarmerie) and international export customers of the GÖKBEY helicopter.

Source: HAVELSAN
Photo Credit: Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye

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