Training & Certification
American Airlines Donates MD-80 Power Unit to Chicago Aviation School
American Airlines donates a retired MD-80 auxiliary power unit to the Aviation Institute of Maintenance Chicago to support technician training programs.
This article is based on an official press release from American Airlines.
American Airlines Donates MD-80 Power Unit to Chicago Aviation School to Boost Technician Training
American Airlines has strengthened its commitment to aviation workforce development with the donation of an auxiliary power unit (APU) to the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) in Chicago. The donation ceremony, held on March 3, 2026, at the school’s hangar on South Ashland Avenue, marks the latest step in a multi-year partnership designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and commercial hangar operations.
According to the airline, the donated equipment is a retired APU from a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft. This specific unit served the airline for 29 years, completing more than 74,000 takeoffs and landings before being retired from flight service. It will now serve as a primary training aid for students learning turbine engine theory, electrical generation, and pneumatic systems.
Enhancing Hands-On Curriculum
The donation provides AIM Chicago students with access to commercial-grade hardware that mirrors the systems they will encounter in the workforce. An APU is a critical component in modern aviation, typically located in the tail cone of an aircraft. It provides electricity to run systems like lights and avionics while the plane is parked and supplies the high-pressure air required to start the main jet engines.
Mark Miner, Vice President of Technical Services at American Airlines, emphasized the longevity and utility of the equipment during the handover ceremony.
“This APU served American and our customers well over the years and we know it will serve students just as well for many more years to come. As Chicago’s leading global airline, it’s our honor and privilege to support local students on their journey to becoming tomorrow’s aviation maintenance professionals.”
, Mark Miner, Vice President of Technical Services, American Airlines
This is not the first contribution American Airlines has made to the Chicago campus. In 2023, the carrier donated a Pratt & Whitney JT8D engine, further expanding the school’s inventory of heavy maintenance training aids. Dr. Joel English, Executive Vice President of AIM, noted that exposure to diverse airframes and powerplants is essential for graduate readiness.
Strategic Workforce Development
The donation is part of a broader strategic partnership established in 2022 between the airline and the maintenance school. The collaboration includes a “guaranteed interview” program, which offers top-performing AIM graduates a direct pathway to employment interviews with American Airlines. Additionally, aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) from the airline actively mentor students and support AIM teams in industry events such as the Aerospace Maintenance Council Competitions.
AirPro News Analysis: Addressing the Technician Shortage
This donation arrives at a pivotal moment for the aviation industry, which continues to grapple with a widening gap between labor supply and demand. According to Boeing’s 2025 Pilot and Technician Outlook, the global aviation industry will require approximately 710,000 new maintenance technicians through 2044. In North America alone, the demand is projected at 123,000 new technicians over the same period.
Locally, Illinois serves as a critical aviation hub. Data indicates that the state employs approximately 4,590 aircraft mechanics, with the majority concentrated in Cook County near O’Hare International Airport. However, with an aging workforce and fleet expansions, the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) has previously predicted a shortage of certified mechanics, making direct pipeline programs like the American-AIM partnership vital for sustaining operations at major hubs.
By placing real-world assets like the MD-80 APU directly into schools, carriers are attempting to reduce the “spool-up” time required for new hires, ensuring they are familiar with complex turbine systems before their first day on the job.
Sources
Photo Credit: American Airlines
Training & Certification
HAVELSAN Expands 737 MAX and A320 Simulator Orderbooks
HAVELSAN grows its Boeing 737 MAX and A320 simulator orderbooks while building a new Ankara facility with 30-unit annual capacity.
Türkiye-headquartered flight simulator manufacturer HAVELSAN is rapidly expanding its commercial aviation training footprint, securing new orders for its Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320 family full flight simulators while constructing a high-capacity production facility in Ankara.
In press releases issued on August 31 and September 1, 2026, the company confirmed its Boeing 737 MAX full flight simulator (FFS) orderbook has grown to five devices. Concurrently, HAVELSAN announced orders for six additional Airbus A320 family training devices, building on the five A320 simulators it already has in operation.
Narrowbody simulator orderbook growth
The recent orderbook expansion is heavily supported by Turkish Airlines (TK). Following the delivery of its latest order for two devices, the national carrier will operate five HAVELSAN-built Boeing 737 MAX simulators.
HAVELSAN noted that eight different airlines and pilot training centers have conducted evaluation fly-outs on its Boeing 737 MAX FFS. All of the manufacturer’s full flight simulators currently in operation have achieved European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA”>EASA) qualification, a critical regulatory benchmark for international sales.
Infrastructure expansion in Ankara
To support the growing backlog of its STARLINE simulator portfolio, HAVELSAN is executing a major infrastructure investment. In March 2026, the company broke ground on a new 17,000-square-meter Simulator Production and Integration Facility in Ankara.
Scheduled to enter service in 2027, the new plant will allow the company to produce up to 30 simulators annually. The facility is designed to support the simultaneous development and integration of 16 devices. Once operational, HAVELSAN’s total infrastructure capacity in Ankara will reach 40 commercial and military simulators.
Strategic market positioning
The narrowbody simulator announcements follow a major July 2026 agreement with Turkish Airlines for 12 new training devices, comprising eight full flight simulators and four flight training devices. That agreement also marked HAVELSAN’s strategic entry into the wide-body aircraft simulation market.
Beyond its domestic market, the company is actively targeting international operators. HAVELSAN recently showcased its STARLINE portfolio at the Asia Pacific Aviation Training Summit (APATS) 2026 in Singapore, aiming to capture demand from Asia-Pacific carriers expanding their narrowbody fleets.
AirPro News analysis
We view HAVELSAN’s concurrent investments in production capacity and EASA qualification as a clear strategy to transition from a regional defense supplier into a global commercial aviation training provider. By scaling its manufacturing infrastructure to support 30 simulators annually, the company is positioning itself to compete directly for narrowbody training contracts against established tier-one simulator manufacturers. The entry into wide-body simulation with Turkish Airlines will likely serve as a critical proof of concept for future international campaigns.
Photo Credit: HAVELSAN
Training & Certification
CPaT Global Partners With Nippon Cargo Airlines for 747-8 Training
CPaT Global will provide digital pilot training solutions to Nippon Cargo Airlines, covering approximately 200 Boeing 747-8 crew members.
Aviation training provider CPaT Global has secured a partnerships with Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) to supply digital pilot training solutions for the Japanese freight operator’s Boeing 747-8 freighter crews.
In a press release issued on September 1, 2026, CPaT Global confirmed the agreement will support approximately 200 pilots. The partnership provides NCA with a centralized digital learning environment that integrates CPaT’s proprietary courseware with the airline’s existing training resources.
Digital Integration for Flight Crews
Under the agreement, NCA will utilize the CPaT Learning Management System (LMS) alongside the developer’s General Subjects courseware. The airline will also implement CPaT Invent and Certificate Builder. These tools allow the operator to incorporate SCORM-compatible third-party content into a single training system.
“We are proud to welcome Nippon Cargo Airlines as a CPaT training partner and expand our support for the aviation community in Japan,” said Capt. Greg Darrow, Vice President of Sales at CPaT Global.
Darrow added that the selection demonstrates the flexibility required by airlines from modern learning platforms, noting the company’s intent to build further relationships with operators throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Corporate Restructuring Under ANA Holdings
The training partnership follows a period of significant corporate transition for the Narita-headquartered cargo airline, which was established in 1978. On August 1, 2025, ANA Holdings Inc. finalized its acquisitions of NCA.
According to reporting by CargoForwarder Global, ANA Holdings initiated a strategic reorganization on April 1, 2026, to merge its separate freight units, including NCA, NCA Japan, and ANA Cargo. Under this restructuring, NCA continues as the operating arm and maintains its own Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to fly its fleet of eight Boeing 747-8 freighters.
AirPro News analysis
We view NCA’s investment in a new digital training infrastructure as a practical step to ensure operational continuity during its integration into the broader ANA Group. By adopting a centralized LMS while retaining its distinct AOC, the cargo operator can standardize recurrent training for its 747-8 crews without disrupting its specialized freight operations.
Sources: CPaT Global
Photo Credit: CPaT Global
Training & Certification
Acron Aviation CTS Signs Boeing 737 Training Deal With ASL Australia
Acron Aviation CTS secures preferred supplier agreement for Boeing 737 Type Rating training with ASL Airlines Australia through 2028.
Acron Aviation Commercial Training Solutions (CTS) has secured a multi-year preferred supplier agreement to provide Boeing 737 Type Rating training for ASL Airlines Australia through the end of 2028.
Announced in a September 2, 2026, press release, the contract formalizes a long-term training pipeline following an initial program completed in the first half of 2026. The instruction will continue to be delivered at the CTS London Training Centre.
Tailored Boeing 737 Training Curriculum
The agreement encompasses comprehensive Boeing 737 Type Rating instruction and includes provisions for Airline Pilot Standards Multi-Crew Cooperation (APS MCC) training. A key component of the curriculum is the integration of ASL Airlines Australia’s specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This tailored approach is designed to ensure pilots transition directly into line operations upon completion of the simulator phases.
Captain Nathan Burkitt, Head of Training and Checking for Flight Operations at ASL Airlines Australia, stated that trainee feedback on the initial courses has been highly favorable.
“Feedback from our trainees on the course, facilities, instructors and overall training environment has been overwhelmingly positive, with particular praise for the instructors’ professionalism, knowledge and commitment to helping every pilot succeed,” Burkitt said.
Corporate Transition and Future Operations
The finalization of this training contract occurs during a period of corporate restructuring for the training provider. On August 26, 2026, parent company Acron Technologies announced a definitive agreement to divest its Commercial Training Solutions business to FlightSafety International (FSI). That transaction includes the Training Systems, Training Services, and Aviation Academy portfolios, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Despite the pending acquisition, CTS leadership emphasized operational continuity and customer focus. Patrick Davis, Vice President and General Manager of the London Training Centre for Acron Aviation CTS, noted the agreement reflects the airline’s confidence in the facility’s instructional quality.
“We’re delighted that ASL Airlines Australia has extended its partnership with Acron Aviation and selected us as a preferred supplier for Boeing 737 Type Rating training through to the end of 2028,” Davis said.
AirPro News analysis
We view the timing of this multi-year agreement as a positive indicator for the impending integration of the CTS business into FlightSafety International. Securing a guaranteed training pipeline through 2028 provides immediate revenue visibility for the London Training Centre under its new ownership. The commitment from ASL Airlines Australia demonstrates that the pending corporate handover has not deterred operator confidence in the facility’s ability to deliver specialized, SOP-integrated Boeing 737 instruction.
Sources: Acron Aviation
Photo Credit: Acron Aviation
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