pilot training Archives - Aviation Today

Two Dead After Midfield Aviation Aeronca Champion Aircraft Crashes Near Hesperia

Aviation Today News Desk / September 25, 2026

Hesperia, United States: Two people were killed after a Midfield Aviation-operated single-engine Aeronca Champion crashed near Hesperia Airport in California […]

Incidents

Trainer Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing In Rajasthan After Tyre Failure, No Injuries

Aviation Today News Desk / September 25, 2026

Kishangarh, India: A Piper Archer training aircraft operated by Avyanna Aviation Academy made a safe emergency landing at Kishangarh Airport

Aircraft Crashes

Student Pilot And Instructor Killed After Training Aircraft Crashes In Kajiado, Kenya

Aviation Today News Desk / September 19, 2026

Kajiado, Kenya: Two people, a student pilot and a flight instructor, were killed after a Kenya School of Flying light

India

DGCA Proposes New Draft Rules For ATOs To Conduct Aircraft Type-Rating Training Course

Aviation Today News Desk / September 1, 2026

New Delhi, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a draft revision to the Civil Aviation Requirement

Carlisle, United States: A Cessna 150 collided with a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter at Carlisle Regional Airport in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday evening, August 19, killing the Cessna pilot and injuring two state police troopers aboard the helicopter. The collision occurred near a runway at the airport, about 110 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The FAA identified the aircraft involved as a Cessna 150 and a Bell 407. The Cessna pilot, believed to have been the aircraft's only occupant, died in the crash. Authorities had not released the pilot's identity pending notification of next of kin. The Bell 407 was operated by the Pennsylvania State Police and was carrying two members of the department's aviation unit, Cpl. Bryce Corman and Tpr. Jason Mills. The helicopter was conducting a routine training exercise at Carlisle after operating from its Harrisburg base. According to Acting Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens, the helicopter was positioned several feet above a grassy area next to a runway when the Cessna approached from behind. The aircraft came down along the runway before veering sharply to the right at the last moment and striking the helicopter from the rear. “As that Cessna came down along that runway for an unknown reason, it veered hard to the right. At the last moment, it struck the helicopter from the rear,” Bivens said. The Cessna struck the helicopter's rear section, involving the tail rotor and then the main rotor, sending both aircraft into a violent crash. The Cessna broke into multiple pieces, while the Bell 407 lost its rotor blades and tail boom before rolling over and coming to rest on its side, partially on its roof. The two troopers were initially trapped inside the helicopter. Corman was able to push out a window and help Mills escape through the opening. Mills was believed to have suffered more serious injuries and significant bleeding, according to Bivens. Both troopers were taken to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Dr. Ashley Ludwig, the hospital's trauma medical director, said they arrived as Level 1 trauma patients but had only minor injuries and were in stable condition. One was expected to be discharged Wednesday night, while the other was admitted for further observation. Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Col. Christopher Paris said the helicopter crew was conducting routine training when the collision occurred. He said the helicopter pilots would not have been able to see the Cessna approaching from behind. “The pilots would not have been able to even see that airplane approaching them,” Paris said. Governor Josh Shapiro visited the medical center and praised the emergency response and medical teams involved in treating the injured troopers. “Tonight could have been much worse,” Shapiro said, adding that the response was “an example of Pennsylvania at its finest.” Emergency personnel responded to the airport following the crash, and the coroner was called to the scene. Local residents Patrick Brown and Lloyd Slusser also reportedly crossed a fence and ran toward the wreckage to assist after witnessing the crash. The Cessna was reportedly from the local area, but authorities have not disclosed its departure point, destination or the purpose of its flight. The aircraft's pilot was believed to be its sole occupant. The exact cause of the collision remains undetermined. Officials said the Cessna's sudden right turn was made for an unknown reason, and investigators will examine why the aircraft veered from its approach path, the helicopter's position, airport operations and communications. Carlisle Regional Airport does not have an air traffic control tower. Pilots operating there use a common traffic radio frequency, and investigators are expected to examine those communications as part of the inquiry. State police also secured photographs and video that could assist investigators in reconstructing the collision. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation, with Pennsylvania State Police assisting. The NTSB said the wreckage would be documented and moved to a secure facility for further examination. Although the FAA and NTSB described the incident as a midair collision, Pennsylvania State Police later said the helicopter was on the ground at the time of the impact. Officials have not yet established whether the Cessna was airborne at the exact moment of contact. The distinction, along with the reason for the Cessna's sudden deviation, remains part of the investigation. No final cause has been determined, and authorities have not attributed the crash to pilot error, mechanical failure, communications issues or any other specific factor.

Aircraft Crashes

Pilot Killed After Cessna 150 Collides With Pennsylvania State Police Helicopter

Aviation Today News Desk / August 20, 2026

Carlisle, United States: A Cessna 150 collided with a Pennsylvania State Police Bell 407 helicopter at Carlisle Regional Airport in

Baramati, India: A Cessna 172S training aircraft operated by Academy of Carver Aviation Pvt. Ltd. veered off the runway during a training exercise at Baramati Airfield in Maharashtra’s Pune district on Sunday, August 9, 2026. The aircraft, registered VT-SEX, had two people onboard flight instructor Captain Chirag Shashikant Doifode and cadet Abhijeet Jundre. Both escaped unharmed. The incident occurred at about 12:30 pm. The four-seat aircraft was conducting a Circuit and Landing Emergencies training exercise, during which the trainee was required to practise landing following an emergency scenario. Police and aviation authorities said the aircraft was involved in rejected-take-off exercises as part of the training sequence. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the DGCA-approved Academy of Carver Aviation aircraft “suffered a runway excursion at Baramati Airfield.” The ministry said the aircraft “was involved in a Circuit and Landing Emergencies (CL Emergencies) training exercise” and was unable to stop within the paved runway surface before veering onto the extended paved area beyond the runway threshold. A DGCA Air Safety team was sent to the site to conduct a preliminary investigation. Police said the aircraft initially entered the runway through Link Bravo and lined up at the threshold of Runway 29, where it carried out a rejected take-off exercise. It was subsequently positioned at the threshold of Runway 11 for another rejected take-off exercise. During the sequence, the aircraft could not be brought to a complete stop and continued beyond the runway before veering onto the grassy area. Police said the aircraft travelled roughly 20 feet beyond the runway end before entering the grass. Inspector Narayan Pawar said, “The brakes of the aircraft seem to have not worked,” while adding that the situation was under control. Pune Rural Deputy Superintendent of Police Chaitanya Kadam confirmed that both occupants were safe. The aircraft sustained damage during the runway excursion. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said, prima facie, damage was found to the propeller, engine cowling and nose landing gear, with a detailed assessment to be conducted by the competent authorities. The cause of the incident has not yet been established. Police said investigators were examining whether the aircraft developed a technical problem or whether another factor contributed to the runway excursion. A senior police official said, “It is too early to comment on anything,” as the investigation was still at an early stage. Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandip Singh Gill said the aircraft skidded while landing. In a statement reported by Economic Times, Gill said: “An aircraft VT-SEX was involved in a runway excursion incident at Baramati Airfield during a training exercise, with Capt Chirag Shashikant Doifode and Cadet Abhijeet Jundre on board. No injuries have been reported.” The aircraft involved was a Cessna 172S, a four-seat single-engine trainer. The DGCA’s list of approved flying training organisations as of March 30, 2026, lists VT-SEX as a Cessna 172S operated by Academy of Carver Aviation Pvt. Ltd., whose flying base is near Baramati Airport. Carver Aviation’s own fleet information also lists VT-SEX among its training aircraft. There was therefore no injury to the cadet, no injury to the instructor and no fatality in the August 9 incident. The aircraft was not carrying passengers beyond the two flight-training occupants, and the incident occurred during a scheduled training exercise rather than a passenger operation. The incident has nevertheless renewed scrutiny of safety conditions at Baramati. Hindustan Times described it as the seventh aircraft accident or incident linked to Baramati’s aviation and flight-training operations since 2022, prompting calls for a broader review of infrastructure, operational systems and oversight. Aviation expert Dhairyashil Vandekar said the latest incident should trigger a comprehensive review of the airfield. “It is important that the safety and confidence of trainee pilots must be paramount,” Vandekar said, adding that Baramati’s infrastructure and operational systems need to keep pace with the volume of flying activity. He called for appropriate air traffic services, modern navigation and communication systems and stronger emergency-response infrastructure. The DGCA is now examining the circumstances and contributing factors behind the August 9 runway excursion. At present, authorities have not attributed the incident to a confirmed brake failure, mechanical defect, pilot error or any other specific cause. The investigation is expected to establish what led the Cessna 172S to leave the paved runway during the training exercise.

Incidents

Cessna 172S Suffers Runway Excursion At Baramati During Training, 2 Escape Unhurt

Aviation Today News Desk / August 10, 2026

Baramati, India: A Cessna 172S training aircraft operated by Academy of Carver Aviation Pvt. Ltd. veered off the runway during

New Delhi, India: The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India) has strongly rejected recent remarks by IndiGo Managing Director Rahul Bhatia attributing India's pilot shortage to revised flight duty and fatigue management regulations, asserting instead that deeper structural issues within the aviation industry are constraining the country's pilot workforce. In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 29, 2026, ALPA India said the debate surrounding pilot availability should focus on long-standing industry practices rather than the implementation of revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL). The pilots' body maintained that India's aviation sector has sufficient interest among aspiring pilots but alleged that barriers within the training and employment ecosystem are restricting the effective supply of qualified flight crew. According to reports by PTI, ALPA India disputed suggestions that enhanced fatigue regulations are responsible for the industry's staffing challenges. Instead, the association argued that three structural issues continue to affect pilot availability: the high cost of cadet training and aircraft type ratings, alleged anti-competitive hiring practices among airlines, and wage-related employment practices that limit pilot mobility. The association urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to expedite investigations into these issues, stating that addressing structural barriers would provide a more sustainable solution to pilot shortages than revisiting safety-focused flight duty regulations. The remarks came after Rahul Bhatia co-founder of IndiGo and serves as the Managing Director of InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., the parent company of IndiGo expressed concerns over the implementation of revised DGCA Flight Duty Time Limitations, stating that the changes could intensify pilot shortages and increase operational challenges for airlines. His comments reignited discussion across the aviation sector regarding the balance between operational efficiency and flight safety. Bhatia told PTI, "I think Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) needs a review, and I think there's enough conversation going on with the government. All we want to do is appeal to the government that we must follow the global best practices". Responding directly to Rahul Bhatia's recent comments, ALPA India argued that weakening or delaying fatigue management reforms would not resolve the industry's workforce challenges. Instead, it said policy attention should remain focused on ensuring fair market practices while maintaining internationally accepted flight safety standards designed to reduce pilot fatigue. India's revised FDTL regulations were introduced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) following recommendations aimed at strengthening pilot fatigue management. The rules seek to improve crew rest requirements, regulate night operations and reduce fatigue-related safety risks. While several airlines have expressed operational concerns regarding implementation, pilot associations have consistently maintained that the regulations are essential for maintaining flight safety. ALPA India specifically called for faster progress in investigations into cadet programme pricing and inter-airline hiring practices. The association argued that the financial burden associated with airline cadet programmes and mandatory type-rating training has significantly increased the cost of entering the profession, making commercial pilot careers inaccessible for many aspiring candidates. The pilots' body also alleged that anti-competitive employment practices within the industry have affected labour mobility. It claimed that certain hiring practices discourage experienced pilots from moving between airlines, thereby limiting competition in the labour market and suppressing salary growth. ALPA India said these issues require regulatory scrutiny by the Competition Commission of India. The association further maintained that wage suppression has become another contributing factor behind the industry's pilot supply concerns. According to ALPA India, compensation structures and employment conditions at certain carriers discourage both retention and recruitment despite growing demand for pilots as Indian airlines continue expanding their fleets. ALPA India claimed that airline-backed cadet programmes require aspiring pilots to spend between ₹60 lakh and ₹1.25 crore on training, significantly higher than international type-rating programmes that typically cost around ₹20 lakh. The association further alleged that many cadets are bound by long-term employment agreements despite having no assurance of securing a job. ALPA India reiterated that pilot shortages cannot be attributed solely to duty-time regulations and emphasized that broader structural reforms are necessary. The association said reducing financial barriers for cadet pilots, ensuring competitive hiring practices and addressing employment-related concerns would help strengthen the long-term supply of qualified flight crew in India's rapidly expanding aviation market. Neither the Ministry of Civil Aviation nor the Competition Commission of India had publicly responded to ALPA India's latest appeal at the time of publication. Similarly, no fresh official statement from IndiGo responding specifically to ALPA India's latest remarks had been issued.

Airlines

ALPA Rejects IndiGo’s FDTL Remarks, Cites Structural Issues Behind Pilot Shortage

Aviation Today News Desk / July 31, 2026

New Delhi, India: The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) has strongly rejected recent remarks by IndiGo Managing Director

India

41% Of India’s Newly Licensed Commercial Pilots Trained At Foreign Flight Schools

Aviation Today News Desk / July 25, 2026

New Delhi, India: India issued 1,331 Commercial Pilot Licences (CPLs) in the first six months of 2026, with around 41%

Pilot Training

DGCA Bars Redbird Flight Academy Admissions Until Aug 2027 Over Regulatory Violations

Aviation Today News Desk / July 20, 2026

New Delhi, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has prohibited Redbird Flight Training Academy, regarded as South Asia’s

A 22-year-old student pilot safely landed a training aircraft after her flight instructor fell from the aircraft during a training flight in Argentina, in an incident that has shocked the country's aviation community and prompted an ongoing investigation. The accident occurred on 5 July 2026 near the town of Toledo in Córdoba Province. The training flight departed from Coronel Olmedo Aerodrome, where the Flying Parrot Córdoba flight school is based. On board were the student pilot and 42-year-old flight instructor Leandro Andrés Bertazzo, an experienced commercial pilot and instructor. According to Argentine authorities and local media, the student, who already held a Private Pilot Licence (PPL) but was continuing advanced flight training under supervision, was flying with Bertazzo in a Cessna 150, a two-seat training aircraft commonly used for flight instruction. During the flight, Bertazzo unexpectedly exited the aircraft while it was airborne. The exact circumstances surrounding how he left the aircraft remain under investigation, and officials have not yet determined whether the incident resulted from an accidental fall, a mechanical issue involving the aircraft's door or safety systems, or another cause. The student pilot retained control of the aircraft and, despite suddenly being alone on board, flew it back to Coronel Olmedo Aerodrome and landed safely without assistance. She immediately alerted personnel at the flight school, who notified emergency services and authorities. Search teams subsequently located Bertazzo's body in a rural field near Toledo, approximately 15 to 20 minutes after the student reported the incident. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Bertazzo had worked in aviation for around 10 years and had served as a flight instructor at Flying Parrot Córdoba for approximately four years. Colleagues described him as an experienced instructor, and the school's director, Eduardo Álvarez, said Bertazzo had completed another training flight earlier that day without any indication that something was wrong. Álvarez said the student later recounted that, moments before the incident, Bertazzo told her, "You know what you have to do," before removing his headset, placing his mobile phone aside, opening the aircraft door and leaving the aircraft. Authorities have not independently confirmed the student's account, and investigators are treating it as part of the ongoing inquiry. Investigators have seized the aircraft for examination and are reviewing its maintenance records, flight school documentation, operational procedures and any available communications made during the flight. They are also examining the aircraft's door and restraint systems to determine whether a mechanical malfunction could have contributed to the tragedy. While some Argentine media outlets have reported that investigators are also examining the possibility that Bertazzo intentionally exited the aircraft, judicial and aviation authorities have not announced any official conclusion regarding the cause of the incident. The investigation remains ongoing. The student pilot survived the incident without physical injuries and is expected to provide further testimony as investigators continue reconstructing the events leading up to one of the most unusual training-flight accidents reported in Argentina in recent years.

Incidents

Flight Instructor Dies After Falling From Training Aircraft; Student Lands Safely

Aviation Today News Desk / July 7, 2026

Toledo, Argentina: A 22-year-old student pilot safely landed a training aircraft after her flight instructor fell from the aircraft during

pilot training

Two Dead After Midfield Aviation Aeronca Champion Aircraft Crashes Near Hesperia

Trainer Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing In Rajasthan After Tyre Failure, No Injuries

Student Pilot And Instructor Killed After Training Aircraft Crashes In Kajiado, Kenya

DGCA Proposes New Draft Rules For ATOs To Conduct Aircraft Type-Rating Training Course

Pilot Killed After Cessna 150 Collides With Pennsylvania State Police Helicopter

Cessna 172S Suffers Runway Excursion At Baramati During Training, 2 Escape Unhurt

ALPA Rejects IndiGo’s FDTL Remarks, Cites Structural Issues Behind Pilot Shortage

41% Of India’s Newly Licensed Commercial Pilots Trained At Foreign Flight Schools

DGCA Bars Redbird Flight Academy Admissions Until Aug 2027 Over Regulatory Violations

Flight Instructor Dies After Falling From Training Aircraft; Student Lands Safely

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