AIR & SEA MIDDLE EAST EDITOR KARTIKEYA IN CONVERSATION WITH MR. ALEXANDRE ALVES GLOBAL COO & CCO – AIRWAYS AVIATION GROUP
My career path is very unusual in this field. I had never imagined myself as a pilot or even involved in aviation. I always wanted to be an army officer. After a few years, I decided to leave and was unsure what to do because my training up to that point had not been related to a civilian occupation. Five years after I became a cabin crew member, I was the head of cabin crew and flight services for a business aviation firm with operations in four countries. I have never been satisfied, and I think it’s because of my background that I have always wanted to learn and do more. I worked in aircraft sales, consulting for business aviation, MRO management, handling services, and successfully managed several flight schools. I also managed regional airlines. I have done almost everything in aviation. I say that I am not an aviation expert, but I do know a bit about everything.
Organizations worldwide. It is 100% privately owned and currently operates in 10 countries. Five more will be added this year. We provide ab initio pilot, cabin crew, and maintenance technician training to civilian and military clients.
I want to highlight our strengths and leave it up to the people. We have more than 45 years of experience, operate in 10 different countries on four continents, provide training to the most respected military and air services, and train cadets of several leading airlines. We also have a modern, fully-owned training fleet and state-of-the-art facilities at fair-weather locations worldwide. And I can keep going. It would be best for those interested to contact and visit one of our academies and get a detailed understanding of what we have to offer.
Several aviation authorities, including EASA, CASA, and ICAO, have approved our academies. Our academies are also approved locally by Qualiopi France and Cricos Australia. Our website has a lot of information, but if you’re interested in learning more about it, please visit our site or contact us. We also have a long list of partners in the industry.
They can get it if they really want it. Passion is half the battle. For example, to become a pilot is a major investment. It’s not difficult, but it is demanding in terms of time and effort required. It’s also a large financial investment. If they are really interested in becoming pilots, then this will make it easier for them and give better results. No matter what they choose to do, they must commit fully, prepare adequately, and give 1000%.
The powerplant will undoubtedly be one of the most significant changes. Sustainability is a key factor, and we are seeing developments every day in the industry. I think we’ll see a lot more small hybrid and electric aircraft in the near future, and we’ll also see larger aircraft that use other technologies. The implementation of new technology that assists pilots in flying will also be a major issue. More and more technology will be used in training. VR, AR, and AI will become the norm.
We, as well as the rest of the aviation industry, were affected by the pandemic. However, we used the opportunity to restructure our business and lay the foundation for future growth. In 2023, we began the growth path again by expanding and strengthening our team, opening up new operations, and reinforcing existing ones. The year 2024 will be one of the major expansions as we build on the work done last year. We are planning to open five new markets in Europe, Africa, and Asia. In addition, we are expanding our aircraft fleet in order to meet the demands of some airline training contracts that we are currently negotiating. Parallel to this, we are continuing to partner with universities that offer top-notch academic training for our students. This will give them the tools they need to stand out from the crowd and thrive in the airline industry.
Believe in the industry. It has so much to offer. The sky’s the limit.