€1.2m Ab Initio Training Equipment for BAA Training

BAA Training is expanding its ab initio flight school capacity by investing over €1.2m into new learning material and equipment.

The Academy recently purchased four new aircraft, two Cessna 172 and two Tecnam T2002, which are expected to join the fleet, which currently consists of two Cessna 172, two Tecnam P2006T and nine Tecnam P2002JF aircraft.

Last year BAA Training used 8,000 hours for training students in the aircraft and the flight navigation procedures trainer. This year, the training centre aims to utilize 18,000 hours, more than doubling the number of the previous year. The new aircraft will add nearly 6,000 more hours per year.

"Investment into ab initio training equipment is crucial in order to maintain a successful growth of the company," said Martynas Mazeika, chief operations officer at BAA Training. "Expanding the pool of clients, correspondingly increasing the number of new students and striving to deliver training of the highest quality we need a proper amount of training tools. In order to follow the aviation academy's growth plans and prepare over 200 new pilots each year, in the upcoming five years, BAA Training is set to even double its fleet with similar models of the training aircraft."

In addition to the fleet expansion, this June BAA Training has also invested into obtaining new learning materials for ATPL training, Padpilot. This new training tool is expected to help deliver theoretical training in a more student-friendly way.

"The iPads with Padpilot materials will be used not only for in-class preparation, but also for practical training," explained Boris Bratusevac, Ab Initio Department Director at BAA Training. "It means that our students will utilize iPads while flying the aircraft, they will have access to all the theoretical elements needed to perform the flight properly, and will have all the data accessible immediately."