Skyborne Airline Academy has announced today (24 February) that it is adding a second training centre in the UK at Bournemouth Airport (BOH), in addition to its current bases at Gloucestershire Airport , as well as Vero Beach, Florida, in the United States.
Skyborne says that expansion has been undertaken to enhance the academy’s ability to meet the growing demand for airline pilots in the UK, Europe and beyond.
Lee Woodward, CEO, Skyborne, says: “Since Skyborne’s inception, we have steadily grown trainee enrolment numbers and airline partnerships. This expansion has led Skyborne to develop and launch its second UK base.
“Bournemouth Airport’s bustling commercial environment will give our trainees invaluable experience, developing them into well-rounded, highly skilled pilots ready for today’s airline industry. Supporting local economic growth, we will also be creating ground and flight instructor career opportunities, as well as maintenance and administrative roles in the South West.”
Carla Booth, UK Commercial Director, Skyborne, adds: “Our decision to invest in a new training centre reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality pilot training globally. With Bournemouth Airport home to airlines including TUI, Ryanair and Jet2.com, it will serve as a stable and strategic base for our airline programmes and future growth.
“Having worked with Lee at Bournemouth Airport before I joined Skyborne, I know our trainees and staff will thoroughly enjoy the lifestyle and experience this location has to offer.”
Skyborne adds that initially, the 14,000 sq ft Bournemouth facility will focus on ATPL ground school and Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (MEIR), with further training modules and programmes to follow.
Skyborne’s new base at BOH will mark the return of ATPL training to the airport, which was once one of the busiests flight training locations in the UK, but which has dwindled in recent years. Following the departure of Bournemouth Commercial Flight Training (BCFT), which ceased trading in 2022, there has only been one flight school at the airport, Bliss Aviation, which provides both fixed-wing and rotary training programmes.
