BAA Training Aviation Academy

BAA Training Aviation Academy

Industry	Aviation
Founded	2006 (2006) in Vilnius, Lithuania
Area served	EU CIS APAC MENA
Key people	Marijus Ravoitis (CEO)
Services	Aviation training services: Fixed and Rotary wing Ab Initio Type Rating Cabin Crew Flight Dispatcher Ground handling
Number of employees	211 (2023)
Parent	Avia Solutions Group
Website	www.baatraining.com

BAA Training Aviation Academy is a global aviation training center founded in 2006 with offices in Spain, France, Lithuania and Vietnam. It offers a wide range of programs, including Ab Initio, Type Rating, Cabin Crew, Ground Handling, and Flight Dispatcher training. BAA Training Aviation Academy operates 12 flight simulation training devices (FSTDs), including 4 full flight simulators (FFSs) at their training center in Vilnius, Lithuania, 2 FFSs in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 3 FFSs and 2 FTDs in Barcelona, Spain, as well as 2 FFSs in Paris, France. Through an extensive partnership network of 69+ FFS in 29+ locations, BAA Training Aviation Academy is well-equipped to provide aviation training worldwide for various aircraft types. Based at Lleida-Alguaire International Airport in Spain, the Ab Initio school operates with a fleet of 9 aircraft.

In 2023, the company expanded its fleet of pilot training aircraft by purchasing 48 Cessna 172 Skyhawk aircraft from Textron Aviation, making the largest pilot training base in Europe (in Spain).

History

In 2006, the flyLAL Training Centre was established, fully owned by flyLAL Group. It provided training for B737CL and SAAB 2000 pilots and cabin crew.

In 2009, the academy changed its name to Baltic Aviation Academy as part of a new business strategy.

In 2012, Intelligent business management software, MOMook, designed specifically for aviation training centers, was introduced.

In 2015, Baltic Aviation Academy became BAA Training Aviation Academy. In 2016, the academy purchased an Airbus A320 touch screen trainer, enhancing flight training preparation on the full flight simulator and the first cadet program was launched. In 2018, BAA Training Aviation Academy purchased an Airbus A320 Door and Slide Trainer for cabin crew and pilot training. A BAA Training Vietnam training center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was established. BAA Training Aviation Academy opened a new flight base in Lleida-Alguaire International Airport.

In June 2020, BAA Training and China's state-owned Henan Civil Aviation Development opened a second Asia-Pacific pilot training center in China, having invested 53 million euro. In 2021, the company opened a training facility in Spain and established an MRO in Spain called Avia Repair Co. It also secured €31 million financing was secured for global expansion. In the same year, the academy launched a new Boeing 737 MAX Type Rating Program, virtual reality-based pilot training and signed a long-term agreement with Bamboo Airways on full flight simulator leasing.

In 2022, the academy launched a new pilot training program in cooperation with ENAC and a new cadet program with a pilot job guarantee. BAA Training Aviation Academy also signed a contract to provide Air France with Airbus A320 Type Rating services.

Cadet Programs

As of 2023, BAA Training Aviation Academy offered cadet programs with the following airlines: SmartLynx, Avion Express, Vueling, and its own BAA Training Aviation Academy cadet program with a job guarantee. It also has a history of cadet programs with other operators, such as LOT Polish Airlines, Wizz Air, and Turkish Airlines. The vast majority of Wizz Air and Turkish Airlines cadets (182 in total) were employed by the respective airlines after the training.

Ab Initio
ATPL Integrated (to obtain a commercial pilot license – CPL)	age – 18+
CPL Modular (to obtain a CPL)	age – 18+
Airline Cadet Programs (to obtain a CPL): Avion Express SmartLynx Vueling BAA Training cadet program	age – 18+
PPL (to obtain a private pilot license – PPL)	age – 16+

Locations

• A flight base at Lleida-Alguaire International Airport in Spain ensures all-year-round student training.
• BAA Training Aviation Academy Lithuania is the academy's headquarters, a pilot ground school and a training center with four full flight simulators.
• The subsidiary in Asia operates two full flight simulators along with other advanced training equipment, serving students from Vietnam and neighboring countries, such as Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia.
• BAA Training Aviation Academy Spain training center near Barcelona-El Prat Airport is home to 3 full flight simulators and two flight training devices.
• BAA Training Aviation Academyopens a subsidiary near Paris-Orly Airport in France in Q3 of 2023. By the end of the year, it will operate four full flight training devices.