Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Flexjet and Purdue University’s Center for Research and Education in Advanced Technology Ecosystems (Create) are developing AeroSphere for Business Aviation, an ecosystem where learning, working, and innovation converge. The goal of AeroSphere is to create an environment for students and aviation professionals to learn from the real-world experiences and challenges faced by global aviation companies such as Flexjet.
“There are three distinguishing features of AeroSphere,” said Manoj Patankar, director of Create. “It is built on the new Part 147 requirements, it matches the best of on-the-job training and online learning, and it is competency-based.”
AeroSphere Purdue is assisting Flexjet in redesigning the company’s professional development and educational programs for its apprenticeship program, as well as advanced continuing education for its licensed maintenance technicians. Flexjet’s apprentice program takes candidates who have been vetted for aptitude and company culture from zero experience to licensed A&amp;P aviation technicians in just over two years.
Apprentices earn full-time wages while training and graduate with a job offer from Flexjet.&nbsp;The company employs more than 1,300 workers in its global maintenance and product support division.
Kevin Dillon, a Purdue alumni and a senior Flexjet executive overseeing global maintenance facilities, said, “We wanted to align the best academic university in the world for aviation and aerospace technology with the best global business jet operator and create a new approach to professional development.”

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Purdue and Flexjet Partner on Career Accelerator for Business Aviation

AeroSphere combines academic learning with real-world experience

AeroSphere for Business Aviation is an ecosystem where learning, working, and innovation converge.

Flexjet Partners with Purdue on Career Accelerator

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The Dutch air force will receive eight of the two-seaters in 2027

Pilatus PC-7 MKX Basic Trainer Makes First Flight

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Why not teach new pilots to go around before learning how to land?

AINsight: You Can (and Should) Always Go Around

Kerry Lynch

Most major manufacturers will be at static this year

NBAA-BACE Taking Shape with Expanded Program, Most OEMs

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers

GAO Wants High Schoolers To Take Mechanic General Test

Charlotte Bailey

Evolving AI-augmented simulator-based approach to ‘gamify’ learning 

Saab Shaking Up Gripen Training with Project Skynapse 

Howard Hardee

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Spirit AeroSystems workers give Leeham News and Analysis the inside track 

Cutting 'Traveled Work' Delays At Spirit Critical To 737 Output

Jessica Reed

Michel Denis was named CEO of Daher,  Steve Varsano president of Flexjet, and Robert Sumwalt was the next Wright Trophy recipient

People in Aviation —September 2026

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

More In Training and Workforce

Pilatus PC-7 MKX Basic Trainer Makes First Flight

The Dutch air force will receive eight of the two-seaters in 2027

AINsight: You Can (and Should) Always Go Around

Why not teach new pilots to go around before learning how to land?

NBAA-BACE Taking Shape with Expanded Program, Most OEMs

Most major manufacturers will be at static this year

GAO Wants High Schoolers To Take Mechanic General Test

First step toward licensing could encourage youth to seek aviation careers

Saab Shaking Up Gripen Training with Project Skynapse

Evolving AI-augmented simulator-based approach to ‘gamify’ learning

Cutting 'Traveled Work' Delays At Spirit Critical To 737 Output

Spirit AeroSystems workers give Leeham News and Analysis the inside track

People in Aviation —September 2026

Michel Denis was named CEO of Daher, Steve Varsano president of Flexjet, and Robert Sumwalt was the next Wright Trophy recipient

Axis Announces Plans for Helicopter Training Systems

Austrian manufacturer has yet to say which rotorcraft types it will support

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