A new collaboration project for the selection, training and operational placement of new First Officers

Aeroitalia, Aeroitalia Aviation Academy and Urbe Aero Flight Academy announce the launch of a strategic collaboration project aimed at selecting and training the airline's future pilots.

The agreement identifies Urbe Aero Flight Academy as the reference school for the ab initio training of cadetsintended to progress towards Aeroitalia through a structured model of selection, training, performance monitoring and subsequent operational placement.

This partnership comes at a time of strong growth for Aeroitalia, an expanding Italian airline operating a fleet of 15 B-737NG, 2 ATR-72/600 and 2 Embraer aircraft, with 5 B-737 MAX 8 scheduled to enter service from February 2027.

The project is structured around two main initiatives.

ATPL Mentored Cadet Programme

The first project is the creation of an ATPL Mentored Cadet Programme, designed in line with the most advanced European cadet programme models.

The first Aeroitalia ATPL Mentored Cadet Programme will start at Urbe Aero Flight Academy on Thursday, 15 October, while candidate selections will open on 1 September.

Candidates will be jointly selected by Urbe Aero Flight Academy and Aeroitalia Aviation Academy through a structured process including online testing with the Symbiotics ADAPT suite, group exercises and in-person interviews at Aeroitalia Aviation Academy.

The Integrated ATPL course will be delivered entirely by Urbe Aero Flight Academy, while the subsequent APSMCC and Type Rating phases will be managed through a coordinated model with Aeroitalia Aviation Academy.

Aeroitalia, as the airline operator, may then place selected cadets in an initial operational pathway aimed at building their first 500 flight hours on B-737 aircraft, subject to the maintenance of objective performance standards throughout the training process.

At the end of this phase, some cadets may continue their career within Aeroitalia, while others may enter the market as Direct Entry pilots with operational experience and an excellent training background.

APS MCC + Type Rating Candidate Pipeline

The second project involves the creation of a dedicated pipeline for candidates coming from the traditional ATPL route, including those already in an advanced stage or who have completed the course.

Urbe Aero Flight Academy will propose to Aeroitalia Aviation Academy candidates who have been selected and monitored during training. Aeroitalia Aviation Academy will assess them based on their performance during the ATPL course, the Symbiotics ADAPT online suite, group exercises and an in-person interview.

Candidates deemed suitable will be admitted to the APS MCC + Type Rating pathway, with APS MCC conducted on an ENAC-certified B737 MAX FNPT II APS MCC simulator and the subsequent Type Rating delivered under the supervision of Aeroitalia Aviation Academy.

In this case as well, access to the subsequent operational phase will be subject to maintaining the required standards during APS MCC and Type Rating, as well as to the standard checks required by the airline.

Gaetano Intrieri, Chief Executive Officer of Aeroitalia, stated: “Aeroitalia chose Urbe Aero Flight Academy because we consider it an outstanding organisation and one of the best flight schools in Italy and Europe. Over the years, we have had the opportunity to meet several pilots trained at Urbe Aero, and they have consistently ranked among the best prepared, both technically and in terms of operational mindset. For a growing airline such as Aeroitalia, being able to rely on a pipeline of young pilots selected and trained according to rigorous standards is a strategic asset”.

Ugo Calvosa, President of Aeroitalia Aviation Academy, said: “The quality of a cadet programme starts with selection. Training pilots is not enough: from the outset, it is essential to identify candidates with the right aptitude, discipline, decision-making ability and behavioural profile to operate in a modern airline environment.This is why the project with Urbe Aero includes a joint selection process, comprising online assessments, group exercises and in-person interviews, with the aim of building a pipeline aligned with Aeroitalia standards”.

Lorenzo Mezzadri, Accountable Manager & Director General of Urbe Aero Flight Academy, declared: “It is an honour for us to have been selected by Aeroitalia as the reference school for the training of its future pilots.Aeroitalia is a dynamic, fast-growing Italian airline, and its arrival among our partners, alongside international operators such as Wizz Air and easyJet, is one of the clearest acknowledgements of the level of excellence our school has achieved. Airlines that genuinely seek pilots and build partnerships based on the quality of selectionand training, rather than on mere brand exposure, continue to recognise Urbe Aero as a trusted partner”.

A quality-driven model

The collaboration between Aeroitalia, Aeroitalia Aviation Academy and Urbe Aero Flight Academy aims to create a training model focused on quality, genuine candidate selection and the progressive integration of flight school, airline academy and air operator.

But there is more: this partnership goes beyond a commercial agreement, reflecting a shared vision and a concrete investment in the future of aviation and in the training of tomorrow's professionals.

The sharing of core values such as safety, quality and professionalism can create a tangible bridge between training and employment, because when education and industry work together, value is created for the entire sector.

Ultimately, the strength of the project lies in the opportunity offered to students to join a clear, merit-based training pathway aligned with the real needs of an airline such as Aeroitalia, with direct contact with industry professionals and a potential concrete professional opportunity.