A new exhibitor here at EBACE, Brussels-based Sabena Flight Academy, is at Booth No. 785 trying to diversify from its usual airline business. The former subsidiary of defunct carrier Sabena is offering pilot training and consulting for business aircraft operators.
All of Sabena Flight Academy’s six flight simulators are commercial airliner cockpits. “However, we can provide business aviation pilots with ground classes and computer-based training,” CEO Patrick Van Dessel told EBACE Convention News. Such classes can be any course that is not required for crew licenses and yet required by JAR OPS rules–crew resource management, hazardous material transport and so forth.

Sabena Flight Academy’s second business is consulting. For example, one program is devoted to helping operators save fuel. “We have helped some airlines reduce their fuel burn by 3 to 8 percent,” claimed consultant Kris Van den Bergh. Sabena Flight Academy executives believe growing business jet operators need additional structures, making this a good potential market for Sabena. “Start-up companies and those going from a small size to a bigger operation need quality insurance programs and pilot pay schemes,” Van Dessel said. In short, the Belgian company wants to help small operators.