The traditional route to becoming a pilot, which involves attending college and then flight school, wastes €100,000 and four years. Airlines need skilled pilots with flight hours and good training, not degrees. FlyIAA graduates start working at age 20, making money while college students accrue debt. Direct-path pilots with ten years of experience are €330,000 more experienced than those with six by the age of thirty. There are opportunities now that won't last forever because of the structural pilot shortage. Seniority is lost for each month that is postponed. The decision is between relevant training now and costly delays that will not advance your flying career, not between education and aviation.

In an exclusive interview with 50SkyShades, Captain Wissam Mehyou, Founder and CEO of Intercontinental Aviation Enterprise, shares his bold vision for the future of aviation training. From expanding FlyIAA’s global footprint to integrating university partnerships and launching new bases across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond, this conversation reveals the roadmap behind Vision 2030, and the leadership driving it.

FlyIAA Levant’s Open Day at Phoenicia Hotel Beirut brought together future aviators, industry leaders, and families for a hands-on experience. From simulator trials to student testimonials, the event highlighted FlyIAA’s commitment to shaping tomorrow’s aviation professionals.