Ponto Sor, Portugal-based SevenAir Academy has selected a highly experienced airline captain and ab initio instructor, captain Salvador Costa Pereira, to join its board of directors as COO and head of training for its rapidly expanding flight school.

“Salvador Costa Pereira has been in commercial aviation operations and training for more than 20 years, including 13,000 hours flying Airbus A320, A330/340 and A380 types for TAP, Emirates and easyJet,” says Carlos Amaro, CEO of Sevenair Group. “He also has the flight training credentials to lead our academy, which is already one of the largest flight schools in Europe and poised to get bigger.”

“After two decades of operational experience, I now have the opportunity to return to ab initio to contribute my knowledge, skills and attitudes to the younger generation,” Pereira adds. “There is currently a gap between pilot demand and supply, which we can help fill with growth, but we must always do so with the highest standards and quality.”

Last September, Sevenair, the oldest aviation academy in Portugal, acquired the in-country pilot training assets from L3Harris, growing Sevenair to three training locations with over 30,000 sqm of dedicated facilities, 43 aircraft, five simulators and a 145 double-room boarding campus at Ponte de Sor Airport.

Its fleet includes Cessna 150/152, Diamond Aircraft DA40 and DA42, Piper PA-28-181 Archer II and Tecnam P2006T, P2010 and P2008.

SevenAir Academy offers training for the EASA Integrated Airline Transport Pilot Licence for Aeroplanes (ATPL-A), as well as a modular 'frozen' ATPL(A) programme.

Pereira has consulted with CAE on development of a Multi-Pilot Licence (MPL) programme and is a strong advocate for MPL and competency-based training.