2021 – Groundbreaking Year for BAA Training
2022-01-072021 was a year of hope, new plans and emerging recovery for all aviation industry players. For BAA Training, it was full of change, pride, challenges and achievements. We were planning and implementing a growth strategy, doing a lot of handshakings marking new partnerships and immersing ourselves in innovative technologies bringing pilot education at BAA Training to the next level. It indeed promised new heights in 2022.
“Amid aviation recovery, BAA Training invests in innovative training solutions and confidently creates new businesses since its primary goals are the pursuit of excellence and international growth. We position ourselves as a high-standard, rapidly progressing ATO that applies best industry practices and can offer its clients a high-value and cost-efficient training experience. The tense but steady 2021 created a strong base for future winnings. I am saying a big “thank you“ to the whole BAA Training team for the commitment and achievements that will fructify very soon,” said BAA Training CEO Marijus Ravoitis.
Larger geographical presence and new businesses
Last year was truly groundbreaking in terms of the company’s executed and planned geographical expansion.
At the beginning of 2021, we opened a new subsidiary BAA Training Spain in Barcelona, just 10 minutes away from El-Prat Airport. The largest aviation training centre in Southern Europe, featuring 11 simulator bays and an area of 5300 square meters, began its operations with a state-of-the-art A320ceo FFS in place. However, currently, the list of FFSs is as follows: Airbus A320ceo, Airbus A320ceo/neo and Boeing 737 MAX. In addition, an A320 FTD Level 2 device will soon be ready for training.
BAA Training is also thoroughly preparing to penetrate the French market and build a brand-new training centre, BAA Training France, near Paris Orly Airport. It will be primarily dedicated to our new corporate partner, Transavia France. We will use at least 4 of the total 6 devices to accommodate current and future Transavia France pilot training needs in Q4 2022.
BAA Training decided to establish a new business – a maintenance and repair organization Avia Repair Co, concentrating on quality maintenance services and ensuring the airworthiness of the academy’s fleet of 22 aircraft at BAA Training flight base in Lleida–Alguaire Airport.
Scaling through strategic partnerships
Throughout 2021, BAA Training was agile and nimble in creating new strategic partnerships and strengthening relationships with its existing partners.
BAA Training Vietnam signed an exclusive 5-year contract with Bamboo Airways, a Vietnamese airline owned by the FLC Group. Under this contract, the academy will dry lease A320 FFSs and provide A320 and E190 Type Rating training services for Bamboo Airways.
BAA Training extended its collaboration with Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ENAC) by developing a BAA Training-ENAC mutual training program, containing Ab Initio and advanced airline training.
We are also happy to continue working with Turkish Airlines. The first group of Turkish Airlines cadets has already finished their Ab Initio studies at BAA Training pilot academy, and the second group will graduate later this year.
An innovative approach to training
BAA Training invoked modern technology, aiding the student pilots throughout the training process.
We were the first ATO to launch a highly innovative online training concept across the entire organization, allowing students and pilots to undertake aviation training remotely via an unconventional BAA Virtual platform.
Following the recently signed contract with VRPilot, BAA Training will embed virtual reality-based training into its curriculum to be on the leading edge of pilot education. VR technology provides an opportunity for student pilots from the beginning of their studies to develop necessary skills in a real-life environment and quickly handle even the most challenging scenarios.
New programs and equipment
The company has also excelled in developing new pilot training courses and getting them approved by regulators:
- BAA Training-ENAC mutual training program: comprises Ab Initio and advanced training, available for airlines;
- Boeing 737 MAX Type Rating and Boeing 737 MAX to/from Boeing 737NG Differences programs at BAA Training Spain;
- ATP Bridging course at BAA Training Vietnam – a theoretical instruction training aimed at pilots looking to convert their licences obtained outside of Vietnam to the format fully approved by the CAAV;
- Pilot Peer Support Program (PPSP): created in cooperation with Avion Express and KlasJet – a service that helps pilots and BAA Training students and instructors improve their psychological well-being.
Concerning the equipment, BAA Training will take advantage of the opportunity to combine FFSs with respective FTDs, offering clients better pricing without compromising the quality of the training. Early in 2022, a B737 MAX FTD and an A320 FTD will be ready for training in BAA Training Spain. Two more A320 FTDs are scheduled to be delivered to BAA Training Vietnam.
To sum up, 2021 was full of significant events, signed agreements, new plans outlined, and more. BAA Training, equipped with the historic €31 million financing for the global expansion and a team of professionals, is prepared for the sprint race of 2022. Last year that saw a +246% growth of Ab Initio graduates compared to 2019, was like a final rehearsal before the historic performance!
