Training & Certification
Elixir Aircraft Launches Upgraded Elixir+ Trainer with FAA Certification
Elixir Aircraft expands globally with the Elixir+, featuring increased MTOW and FAA certification, boosting its presence in the US and Europe.
This article is based on official press releases from Elixir Aircraft and summarized industry reporting.
French light aircraft manufacturer Elixir Aircraft is rapidly cementing its position as a major disruptor in the global flight training market. Founded in 2015, the company has leveraged innovative manufacturing techniques to produce fourth-generation, two-seater training aircraft designed to drastically reduce operating and maintenance costs for flight schools.
As of April 2026, the manufacturer has reached significant operational milestones. According to company statistics and data published by Professional Pilot Magazine, Elixir Aircraft now holds an order book exceeding 300 aircraft, with 55 units currently in active operation. This growth is being driven by aggressive expansion into the United States and the continuous rollout of upgraded airframes.
To meet the evolving demands of flight instructors and student pilots, the company recently utilized the AERO Friedrichshafen aviation trade show in Germany to unveil its next-generation trainer, the Elixir+. This launch, alongside a rapidly expanding North American footprint, signals a critical growth phase for the European aerospace firm.
The Elixir+ Unveiled at AERO Friedrichshafen
Technical and Aerodynamic Upgrades
On April 22, 2026, Elixir Aircraft officially introduced the Elixir+, an upgraded iteration of its flagship training aircraft. According to reporting by Aviation Week Network, the new model introduces several critical technical enhancements aimed at improving payload and durability. The Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) has been increased from 630 kg to 700 kg. This upgrade allows operators to comfortably carry two pilots alongside a full fuel load, a frequent operational requirement for extended training flights.
Aerodynamically, the Elixir+ features an extended wingspan, growing from 8.48 meters to 8.94 meters. Company press releases detail that the redesigned wings incorporate new winglets, vortex generators, and updated leading edges to maximize aerodynamic efficiency. Furthermore, the aircraft includes a redesigned fuel pump system to simplify maintenance routines and an evolved nose landing gear engineered to better withstand the hard landings typical of student pilot training.
Launch Customers and Fleet Growth
The market response to the Elixir+ has been immediate. Aviation Week Network reports that Greek flight school Global Aviation became the launch customer, placing a firm order for five Elixir+ aircraft to be based at Ikaros Airport near Athens.
Simultaneously, the company continues to expand its standard European fleet. On April 10, 2026, Omni Aviation Training Center (OATC) in Portugal took delivery of two additional Elixir aircraft, with plans to expand their fleet to seven, according to Professional Pilot Magazine. Earlier in the year, on February 20, 2026, the Andorra Aviation Academy ordered an aircraft for its practical flight training program, with delivery slated for the summer of 2026.
Expanding the Footprint: From France to Florida
U.S. Market Entry and FAA Certification
A pivotal moment for Elixir Aircraft’s global strategy occurred in July 2025 when the aircraft received its FAA Part 23 certification, a milestone announced during EAA AirVenture and documented by Plane + Pilot Magazine. This certification effectively unlocked the lucrative American flight training market.
Following this approval, AFM Aero reported that Cirrus Aviation, a flight school located in Sarasota, Florida, converted its pre-order into a firm commitment for 10 aircraft. The first two units of this order are scheduled for delivery in the spring of 2026.
To support its North American operations, Elixir has established its U.S. headquarters at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ). The company took over a 12,500-square-foot hangar in 2024 for reassembly, deliveries, and spare parts inventory, and is currently acquiring an adjacent 6,000-square-foot facility. Based on company projections, Elixir plans to employ approximately 200 personnel at the Sarasota site by 2027.
Scaling Production to Meet Demand
Fulfilling a backlog of over 300 orders requires substantial industrial scaling. In early 2024, Elixir secured €40 million in development funding to sustain its operations over the next five years, building upon a €13 million French government subsidy announced in June 2023.
To accommodate increased production rates, the company is preparing to open a new 15,000-square-meter (approximately 160,000-square-foot) manufacturing facility at the La Rochelle airport in France. This expanded capacity will be crucial for fulfilling large institutional contracts, such as the June 2025 order from the French Civil Aviation University (ENAC) for 30 aircraft to renew its VFR training fleet.
The Technology Driving the Disruption
Carbon OneShot and Cost Efficiency
At the core of Elixir’s market appeal is its proprietary “Carbon OneShot” manufacturing technology. Derived from competitive sailing, this technique allows the company to mold entire wing and fuselage components from carbon fiber in single, continuous pieces.
By eliminating the need for thousands of rivets and bonded joints found in traditional aluminum airframes, the Carbon OneShot process creates a simplified structure with fewer potential points of failure, resulting in a highly durable airframe with no life limit.
This structural simplicity translates directly to the bottom line for operators. Industry data indicates that the aircraft operates at a highly competitive cost of approximately $50 per flight hour, covering both fuel and maintenance. This economic advantage makes the platform highly attractive to high-volume flight schools.
AirPro News analysis
We observe that Elixir Aircraft is perfectly positioned to capitalize on two major macroeconomic trends in aviation. First, the global pilot shortage has left flight schools desperate for modern, reliable, and economical training aircraft. By offering an operating cost of roughly $50 per hour and a durable composite airframe, Elixir provides a compelling alternative to the aging fleets of Cessna 172s and Piper Archers that currently dominate the training sector.
Second, Elixir’s expansion into Florida highlights a broader trend of innovative European aerospace startups establishing physical footholds in the United States. By investing heavily in the Sarasota facility and adapting their product line, such as reinforcing the landing gear on the Elixir+ based on direct customer feedback, the company is demonstrating a long-term commitment to capturing and retaining North American market share.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Elixir+?
The Elixir+ is an upgraded version of Elixir Aircraft’s two-seater trainer, unveiled in April 2026. It features an increased MTOW of 700 kg, an extended wingspan of 8.94 meters, and reinforced landing gear.
When did Elixir Aircraft receive FAA certification?
The company achieved FAA Part 23 certification for its aircraft in July 2025, allowing it to operate and be sold within the United States.
What is Carbon OneShot technology?
It is a manufacturing process derived from competitive sailing that molds large aircraft components, like the fuselage and wings, out of single pieces of carbon fiber, eliminating the need for traditional rivets and joints.
Where is Elixir Aircraft’s U.S. headquarters?
The company’s North American hub for reassembly, parts, and delivery is located at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ) in Florida.
Photo Credit: Elixir Aircraft
Training & Certification
Bombardier Safety Standdown 2026 Marks 30th Anniversary
Bombardier opens registration for its 30th annual Safety Standdown, a free seminar on Nov. 10-12, 2026, in Wichita and online.
Bombardier has opened registration for the 30th annual Safety Standdown, a free industry-wide aviation safety seminar scheduled for November 10 through November 12, 2026, in Wichita, Kansas, and online.
Announced in a press release on September 21, 2026, the milestone event marks three decades of the manufacturer’s knowledge-based safety training initiative. The 2026 seminar, themed “Evolution Fueled by Legacy,” aims to leverage historical aviation experiences to build more resilient safety cultures across corporate, commercial, and military flight operations.
Three decades of safety advocacy
Conceived in 1996 by a group of Learjet demonstration pilots in Wichita, the Safety Standdown was initially designed to make their specific team the safest in the industry. The program has since expanded globally to serve the broader aviation community. The event remains open to all aviation professionals, including flight crews, maintenance technicians, flight dispatchers, and schedulers, regardless of the aircraft type they operate.
According to Bombardier, more than 10,000 aviation professionals have attended the seminars worldwide since the program’s inception. Chris Milligan, Vice President of Pre-owned Aircraft Services and Flight Operations at Bombardier, highlighted the event’s longevity and purpose.
“For 30 years, Bombardier’s Safety Standdown has provided aviation professionals with invaluable opportunities to glean new perspectives on safety, helping them evolve and grow in every aspect of flight operations,” Milligan stated.
2026 seminar details and speaker lineup
The 2026 event will take place in person at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita, with virtual attendance options available for international participants. The seminar remains completely free of charge, supported by Bombardier, an advisory council, and industry sponsors to ensure accessibility for organizations of all sizes.
The agenda features several prominent aviation and safety experts. Keynote speaker Dr. Tony Kern, CEO of Convergent Performance, will address attendees alongside Ivan Pupulidy, PhD, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The lineup also includes retired United States Marine Corps Major Jermaine Cadogan and Tim Wade, Corporate Director of Environmental, Health & Safety at Flexjet.
AirPro News analysis
The continued investment in the Safety Standdown highlights a broader industry shift toward proactive safety management systems and human factors training. By keeping the event free and aircraft-agnostic, Bombardier maintains a unique position in corporate aviation safety advocacy. While the manufacturer supports a global fleet of more than 5,200 aircraft, opening this training to operators of competing platforms fosters a collaborative approach to safety that benefits the entire aerospace sector. We view this 30-year milestone as a testament to the enduring value of shared safety data and cross-organizational training in reducing aviation incidents.
Sources: Bombardier
Photo Credit: Bombardier
Training & Certification
Airbus and ALT Academy Partner on Africa MRO Training
Airbus and ALT Academy signed an MoU to build aircraft maintenance training capacity in South Africa amid a projected shortfall of 30,000 mechanics.
South African aviation training organization ALT Academy and European aerospace manufacturer Airbus signed a Memorandum of Understanding on September 16, 2026, to jointly develop aircraft maintenance training programs aimed at closing the continent’s persistent maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capacity gap.
The agreement, formalized at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) Expo 2026 in the City of Tshwane, South Africa, seeks to align academic instruction with current industry requirements. According to a press release issued by ALT Academy, the partnership will focus on creating a pipeline of highly skilled aviation maintenance professionals to support Africa’s growing aviation ecosystem.
Addressing Africa’s MRO capacity shortfall
The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) identified insufficient MRO capacity and a shortage of skilled personnel as primary challenges for regional operators during the African MRO Conference in Addis Ababa earlier in 2026. The reliance on off-continent maintenance facilities currently results in higher costs and extended aircraft downtime for African airlines.
According to reporting by the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, Airbus forecasts that Africa will require 30,000 new aircraft mechanics over the next 20 years to sustain its fleet growth and operational demands. The new MoU aims to address this specific shortfall by bridging the gap between foundational academic training and the technical requirements of modern aircraft maintenance.
Nam-Binh Hoang, Airbus Country Representative in South Africa, stated in the release that the partnership combines the manufacturer’s learning solutions with ALT Academy’s practical education focus to meet the evolving demands of the sector.
Expanding regional training infrastructure
The Airbus MoU follows a separate strategic expansion announced by ALT Academy on September 11, 2026. According to African Pilot, the organization partnered with WECAIR to launch a professional pilot training program spanning the United States, Europe, and Africa, culminating in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) license. The dual focus on pilot and maintenance training indicates a broader effort to localize aviation skills development within South Africa.
Ryan van Wijk, CEO of ALT Academy, emphasized the necessity of manufacturer involvement in technical education to ensure regulatory and safety standards are met.
“Modern aircraft demand a level of technical training that is difficult to build in isolation. This partnership is an important step in our commitment to building practical, high-quality maintenance training capacity in South Africa, and it gives us the opportunity to explore how current manufacturer knowledge and learning solutions can be made more accessible to learners and to industry, while holding a firm line on safety, quality and regulatory requirements, for the benefit of operators across the continent.”
AirPro News analysis
We view the ALT Academy and Airbus partnership as a pragmatic step toward addressing a critical bottleneck in African aviation. While aircraft orders from African carriers have increased, the localized infrastructure required to maintain those fleets has lagged. By embedding original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards directly into regional training curricula, this initiative could reduce the long-term dependency on European and Middle Eastern MRO providers. The success of the MoU will depend on the speed at which these training frameworks can be operationalized and scaled to meet the projected demand for 30,000 mechanics over the next two decades.
Sources: EPT Aviation / ALT Academy
Photo Credit: EPT Aviation
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
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