1. AEGEAN Opens Pilot Scholarship Applications AEGEAN Airlines has invited applications for its pilot scholarship programme, part of a broader push to widen access to commercial pilot training in Greece. 🔗 https://greekcitytimes.com/2026/07/01/aegean-invites-applications-for-pilot-scholarship-programme/ 2. Joby and Toyota Form Air Taxi Manufacturing Joint Venture Toyota, which has backed Joby since 2017, has formalised a joint venture with the eVTOL maker to scale commercial production of its air taxi aircraft. 🔗 https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/joby-toyota-electric-air-taxi-joint-venture-s4-series-evtol-aircraft/824115/ 3. UAE's Lodd Begins Certification for Cargo eVTOL Lodd Autonomous has launched certification for Hili, a hybrid-electric cargo eVTOL and the first such aircraft developed locally in the UAE. 🔗 https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/advanced-air-mobility/uaes-lodd-launches-certification-hili-cargo-evtol 4. FAA Breaks Ground on Oklahoma Vertiport Test Range The FAA has begun construction on an $8.3 million advanced air mobility test range in Oklahoma City, which will include a vertiport, hangar and control centre for VTOL integration research. 🔗 https://airportindustry-news.com/faa-breaks-ground-on-new-aam-facility-in-oklahoma-city/ 5. Orange County Weighs Vertiport Sites Near UCF Florida officials are reviewing consultant recommendations for future vertiport locations near the University of Central Florida and Research Park. 🔗 https://floridapolitics.com/archives/805059-orange-county-officials-discuss-possible-sites-for-vertiports/

A busy week for aviation careers and industry news. Here's what caught my eye. · Europe's pilot shortage is making headlines again. Lufthansa has now joined Air France-KLM, British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet in warning of serious pressure from a lack of pilots, with analysts noting the problem won't ease quickly given how long training takes. If you're considering a flying career in Europe, the demand is very real. https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/c69m5qyvbs9b/ · Alaska Airlines is hiring more than 3,500 employees this year across a range of roles. Details at careers.alaskaair.com. https://www.travelwires.com/alaska-airlines-is-hiring-more-than-3-500-employees-this-year/ · Aviation is also being flagged as one of the most AI-resistant career choices going, with commercial pilots listed at median US pay of around $198,100. The sector also has nearly half its workforce approaching retirement, which means demand for new entrants is only heading one way over the next decade. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/looking-for-an-ai-proof-career-these-industries-have-jobs-paying-100k-salaries-and-one-has-almost-half-of-its-workers-approaching-retirement/ar-AA25Y3Gv · ALPA published a piece on a former military helicopter pilot who transitioned to the airlines and now helps other servicemembers do the same. Military aviators are consistently described by airlines as among their most sought-after candidates, and this article explains why. https://www.alpa.org/articles/2026/06/former-helicopter-pilot-helps-others-transition-from-military-to-airline-flying

1. ARCHER AVIATION CLEARS FAA PHASE 3, ENTERS UAE TYPE PROGRAMME Archer has become the first eVTOL developer to clear Phase 3 of the FAA Type Certification process and has entered the UAE's Restricted Type Certificate programme for limited Abu Dhabi operations, putting commercial launch within sight. 🔗 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/archer-aviation-clears-faa-phase-3-in-certification-push/ss-AA23Yj1M 2. JOBY FLIES MANHATTAN DEMOS AS FAA TESTS ADVANCE Joby Aviation completed FAA-conforming eVTOL test flights and high-profile demonstration flights over Manhattan, including a seven-minute trip, sending its stock up 5.4% and signalling real progress toward New York air taxi service. 🔗 https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/transportation/nyse-joby/joby-aviation/news/why-joby-aviation-joby-is-up-54-after-manhattan-evtol-demo-f 3. DUBAI UNVEILS WORLD'S FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT COMMERCIAL VERTIPORT The world's first purpose-built commercial vertiport for air taxis has been unveiled beside Dubai International Airport, designed and built by Skyports. It's a concrete milestone in a sector long accused of being all renderings and no concrete. 🔗 https://www.thetimes.com/business/entrepreneurs/article/urban-air-mobility-vertiports-skyports-dd7dt85pt 4. KAZAKHSTAN PLANS NATIONWIDE VERTIPORT NETWORK BY 2028 Kazakhstan is preparing regulations for air taxis and urban air mobility, with eVTOL test flights underway and plans to build six vertiports by 2028. It's a notable sign that UAM ambition is now stretching well beyond the usual Gulf, US, and EU markets. 🔗 https://tvbrics.com/en/news/kazakhstan-accelerates-launch-of-air-taxis-with-evtol-trials-and-nationwide-vertiport-network/

1. FAA Puts $26 Million Into the Aviation Talent Pipeline The FAA has committed $26m to support student outreach, recruitment into aviation careers, and modern training technologies, signalling that federal backing for the workforce pipeline is intensifying alongside demand. 🔗 https://avitrader.com/2026/05/19/faa-invests-us26m-in-aviation-talent-pipeline/ 2. AutoFlight Makes First eVTOL Flight in Central Asia Chinese manufacturer AutoFlight completed the first ton-class eVTOL demonstration flight in Alatau City, Kazakhstan, a genuine geographic first that suggests the electric air taxi push is now spreading well beyond Western markets. 🔗 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-evtol-flight-in-central-asia---autoflight-completes-landmark-demonstration-in-kazakhstan-302777690.html 3. UK's Vertical Aerospace Secures $800 Million Funding Package Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace has locked in an $800m funding deal, a significant vote of confidence in the company as it works toward commercialising its VX4 eVTOL aircraft in a market still waiting for its first certified product. 🔗 https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/uk-air-taxi-leader-vertical-aerospace-secures-800m-funding-package/ar-AA21kQyb 4. US Air Force Pilot Shortage Passes 2,000 and Is Now Described as Chronic A Washington Post opinion piece cites the Mitchell Institute's Heather Penney, who writes that the Air Force is more than 2,000 pilots short of requirements, with the problem compounded by ageing aircraft and competing demands on a shrinking qualified pool. 🔗 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/20/us-air-force-copes-with-pilot-shortages-geriatric-airplanes/

--- 1. BOMBARDIER OPENS FASTTRACK TECHNICIAN PIPELINE IN HARTFORD Bombardier has launched FastTrack, an accelerated training pathway in Hartford, Connecticut, aimed at building a steady supply of A&P maintenance technicians for its US service centres. It's a direct response to the long-running technician shortage across business aviation. 🔗 https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2026-05-13/bombardier-launches-fasttrack-ap-program-hartford --- 2. ARCHER BECOMES FIRST EVTOL FIRM THROUGH FAA PHASE 3 Archer Aviation has closed Phase 3 of FAA type certification for its Midnight aircraft, the first eVTOL developer to reach that milestone. Full approval still lies ahead, but the company has put daylight between itself and the rest of the certification pack. 🔗 https://www.airwaysmag.com/new-post/archer-advances-midnight-evtol-faa-certification --- 3. JOBY FLIES NEW YORK'S FIRST POINT-TO-POINT AIR TAXI DEMO Joby Aviation completed New York City's first point-to-point eVTOL air taxi demonstration, and the stock had its best day in three months on the news. It's a marketing milestone rather than commercial service, which still depends on full FAA approval. 🔗 https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/joby-stock-records-best-day-in-three-months-after-first-nyc-air-taxi-test-but-retail-is-awaiting-an-faa-license/ar-AA21RBWk --- 4. VERTICAL AEROSPACE LOSES CHAIR MID-WAY THROUGH $850M SCALE-UP UK-based Vertical Aerospace's chairman Domhnal Slattery is stepping down as the company moves deeper into an $850 million certification and scale-up phase. The departure leaves Britain's leading eVTOL developer looking for new leadership at a critical moment.