Flight simulator set up on a virtual runway.

June 4, 2021

Green international commercial flight school establishes itself in Skellefteå

When the training is fully operational, up to 100 pilots will be trained as commercial pilots in Skellefteå annually. A flight simulator has been installed at Campus Skellefteå and several electric aircraft for training flights will be established at Skellefteå Airport. The flight school will thus become one of the most climate-smart flight training courses in the world.

In Skellefteå municipality, a major societal transformation is currently underway, with several large industrial establishments contributing to the creation of the green society of the future. Skellefteå Airport is working on the green transformation of the transport sector together with, among others, Skellefteå Kraft, Northvolt, InnoEnergy, Skellefteå Science city and is participating in the FAIR project and the Green Airport project. A major focus is on the development of electric and hydrogen aviation and providing fossil-free aviation fuel.

Through Skellefteå Airport's proactive work, including the installation of Sweden's most powerful power supply for electric aircraft, the establishment of the flight school is made possible.

Electric flying is here and now.

Almost 100 projects are underway around the world to develop new aircraft of various models. Being able to develop a climate-smart educational platform and also doing it in a place and environment like Skellefteå has great advantages both for the school and for Skellefteå. The school will be international and thus become an export company.

It reinforces the airport's efforts to create a green airport with a network of regular electric flights and strengthens Skellefteå Municipality as a driving place for innovation and green transition, says Olov Hultdin, CEO of Green Flight Academy. The travel industry around the world is strongly affected by the pandemic, but despite this, there will be a future need for pilots because the industry has been affected by brain drain, reduced training and pilots have had a shortage of flight hours to maintain their license. The consequences are that in the short term there will be a shortage of flight simulator time, a general shortage of pilots for the restart to the new normal and above all, the shortage is very large for many years to come because growth will be strong internationally.

We are extremely pleased that Green Flight Academy chooses Skellefteå and Skellefteå Airport.

Through foresight and aggressive work where we, together with our partners, operate and develop the fossil-free flights of the future, this establishment has been possible. The flight school will mean new jobs and many students, which means that Skellefteå takes a central place in the development of fossil-free transport, says Skellefteå Airport CEO Robert Lindberg.

Green Flight Academy will start operations in the fall and will welcome the first group of students in early 2022.