Alarming Increase in Solo Incidents at AeroGuard Flight Training Centre
The AeroGuard Flight Training Centre in Phoenix, Arizona, has recently experienced a concerning trend of solo incidents during cadet training, resulting in damage to aircraft at cross-country destination airports. In response to these incidents, AeroGuard has made the decision to ground solo flights until further notice.
According to AeroGuard CEO Meade, the incidents involved pilots in command continuing with their missions without consulting their duty flight instructor, placing themselves in potential danger. Additionally, some students failed to properly report the damage upon returning to Deer Valley airport, further exacerbating the situation.
Meade emphasized that the decision to halt solo flights was not solely due to the aircraft damage but also because students were not meeting expectations in terms of training, guidance, and aeronautical decision-making. AeroGuard, in collaboration with Cathay Pacific, is working on a remedial response to ensure the safety management system requirements are met and students are fully supported during solo missions.
Despite the suspension of solo flights, dual flight training missions, simulator missions, and academic classes will continue as scheduled at the AeroGuard Flight Training Centre. The centre, which has a long-standing partnership with Cathay Pacific, aims to train hundreds of new pilots each year to support the airline’s global recovery efforts post-pandemic.
Cathay Pacific reiterated its commitment to safety and stated that it fully supports AeroGuard’s decision regarding the reported incidents. The airline plans to train over 1,000 cadet pilots by 2025 to meet the increasing travel demand in the Asian aviation market.
As Cathay Pacific works towards restoring pre-pandemic capacity by early 2025, the airline faces a pilot shortage and has had to cancel hundreds of flights in recent months. The recruitment of 500 new pilots this year is crucial to meeting the company’s targets and ensuring the highest standards in its training programmes.
