Capt Andre Berger

The Journey of André Berger started with advanced mathematics studies in the late seventies, followed by engineering, though he soon pivoted himself to pursue a career as a pilot. Pilot training in the early eighties was challenging, especially during a time when airlines in his country, Belgium at the time, were not hiring novice pilots. European pilot licenses were country-specific, EASA and standardization did not yet exist. The only large jet-operating airline he aspired to join was the national flag carrier, Sabena, but due to hiring freezes and the closure of the Civil Aviation School, he had to gain experience through diverse roles: ground handler, aircraft cleaner, mechanic, flight engineer, dispatcher, scheduler, banner-towing pilot, air taxi pilot, flight instructor, caterer, and even driving instructor, before finally being offered a first officer role on the B737-200 at Sabena.

What initially seemed like a challenging, frustrating path ultimately provided him with valuable insights into the holistic workings of an airline, beyond just the flight deck. Within four months as a B737-200 first officer, he was appointed as a simulator flight instructor, which soon extended to aerobatic instruction and training on the SF260 Marchetti and Embraer Xingu (E121) in the ab initio program. He became involved in structuring and rewriting the training manuals, covering all stages of flight training up to instructor courses on commercial jets. He was assigned to Arizona as Chief Flight Instructor to establish Sabena’s new ab initio pilot training program, laying the foundation for what is now one of the largest training centers globally, operated by CAE.

In the mid-nineties, he became Managing Director of the Belgian Aviation School and then joined Sobelair, the leisure airline within the Sabena Group, to resolve regulatory issues. As Crew Training Manager, he developed Belgium’s first certified Type Rating Training Organization (TRTO) under emerging JAA and EASA standards. He also supported the setup of a new airline, Mondair in Morocco.

Following Sabena's bankruptcy in 2001 and Sobelair’s demise 2 years later, he established the flight operations department for TUI Airlines Belgium, then known as JETAIRFLY, part of the TUI Group. This role extended to consulting with other TUI Group airlines and to establishing JET4YOU in Morocco, pioneering interoperability between EASA and non-EASA carriers. Over time, he took on responsibilities as Head of Flight Operations and Head of Training across TUI’s five AOCs, creating interoperability between AOC’s, heading fuel efficiency and sustainability, renewing the training department, conducting numerous operational and training audits of airlines and training organizations in Europe, the USA, the Caribbean, Russia, and the Far East.

His career as a pilot includes over 23,000 flight hours, primarily on Boeing aircraft (B737, B767, B787), with experience in all pilot roles (first officer, captain, instructor, examiner) worldwide. His first true love was the good old DC-10, on which he served as flight engineer. He has also experience as a simulator instructor on the Bae146 and Airbus A320/A330, and he has been a long-term qualified instructor on some of the most demanding airports (e.g., Innsbruck, Samos, Funchal, Chios,…) and routes (Himalaya’s, Atlantic, Pacific, Polar routes …).

Under his leadership, the B787 specs were refined, and the aircraft was successfully introduced for TUI on the European continent. In the B737MAX project, he was chairing the flight deck specifications team for flight operations, training, he attended all pre-launch Boeing “working together” conferences on the B737MAX and he served as the TUI launch pilot for that model. He also oversaw its grounding and managed its return to service nearly two years later.

As a Chief Flight Instructor and CEO/accountable manager for several Approved Training Organizations (ATOs), he introduced Immersive Training in Multi-Pilot License (MPL) programs, streamlining training by canceling traditional but less effective steps like single-engine instrument flying and multi-engine piston training.

Recently, he implemented Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) across all type rating and ab initio pilot training courses, enhancing crew selection and training while accommodating modern airline requirements.

André Berger also is an experienced technical writer fluent in English and French, albeit his native language is Dutch. He specializes in creating operational manuals, guidelines, and procedures for major aviation corporations. He is a member of a distinguished global group of experts working with leading airlines, training organizations, manufacturers like Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, as well as simulator manufacturers and regulators. The aim is to enhance safety, training, and operational efficiency in the aviation industry.

Currently based in the Middle East with his family, André is actively involved in pilot training, flight operations, and exploring advanced technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence in aviation. His passion lies in shaping the future of crew training by employing innovative tools to enhance the learning experience and skills of the next generation of pilots and cabin crew.