The school
Our alumni
They trained here before joining scheduled transport, cargo, business aviation or aerial work. Every story is published with its author’s written consent: training years, the course as it appears in our records, and their current position in their own words.
2023 · Modular track — MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A)
Elliot Guerin
First Officer at Wizz Air, on the Airbus A320
“A great school to prepare for airline life, the SOPs especially.”
2022-2023 · Modular track — MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A), Advanced UPRT
Maxence Leroy
First Officer on the Airbus A320
“Work with determination, persevere, believe in yourself, never give up — and maybe one day we'll meet in the sky.”
2022-2023 · Modular track — NVFR, MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A)
Enes Ulusoy
First Officer at Brussels Airlines, on the Airbus A320
“Moving from engineering to flying was one of the best decisions of my life. The road is long and demanding, but it is well worth it if you are passionate about aircraft.”
2019-2024 · Modular track — PPL, ATPL theory, NVFR, MEP, IR-ME, Advanced UPRT, CPL(A)
Julien Nassel
First Officer at Brussels Airlines, on the Airbus A320/A319
“Stay humble, believe in your dream and be ready to commit fully. In aviation, as in many fields, you reap what you sow.”
2022-2024 · Modular track — NVFR, MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A)
Baptiste Depaepe
First Officer at Ryanair, on the Boeing 737
“Air Academy New CAG gave me a solid foundation to grow in the world of aviation. I particularly appreciated the modular format of the training, which lets everyone progress at their own pace.”
2014-2016 · CPL, Instrument Rating (IR), Multi-Engine Piston rating (MEP)
Donald Sherman
Captain at Ryanair, on the Boeing 737
“Your career will take you to places and give you moments you can't even imagine… It's the best job in the world.”
2011-2012 · CPL, Instrument Rating (IR), Multi-Engine Piston rating (MEP)
Nicolas Maret
Captain at easyJet, based in Geneva
“Never give up. Believe in yourself. Go for it, and don’t hesitate to do what the next person won’t. Above all, stay honest.”
2015-2016 · Modular track — ATPL theory, MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A), Flight Instructor rating (FI)
François GdD
First Officer at Air France, on the Airbus A350
“A school that supported me and pushed me upwards through my career change, and launched me into professional aviation. An improbable dream, and yet so real… Proof that steady hard work always pays off!”
2015-2016 · Modular track — MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A)
Johan Toledano
First Officer at Volotea, on the Airbus A319/A320
“A superb school less than three hours from Paris, at half or even a third of the price. I was able to adapt my training schedule because I wanted to keep my salaried job.”
2019 · Modular track — MEP, CB-IR, IR-ME, CPL(A)
Paul Anfray
First Officer at Air France HOP!, on the Embraer 170/190
“Keep questioning yourself and stay passionate.”
2023-2025 · Modular track — ATPL theory, MEP, IR-ME, Advanced UPRT, CPL(A)
Xavier Joris
First Officer at ASL Airlines Belgium, on the Boeing 737
“I am very satisfied with my time at the NewCAG. Overall, everything went very well. I don’t have any particular advice, other than to be passionate and motivated.”
2022-2024 · Modular track — ATPL theory, MEP, IR-ME, Advanced UPRT, CPL(A), Pilatus PC12 class rating
Geoffrey Bastyns
First Officer PC12, Safety Pilot PC24 and PIC DA42 at EAPC
“Radically changing your life, moving from the construction sector to aviation at 29, while also balancing family life — it’s possible! With perseverance — and with the support, help and professionalism of the NewCAG team — your dreams of becoming a pilot are assured!”
2019-2022 · Modular track — PPL, NVFR, MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A)
Bryan Vanoverberghe
First Officer at Brussels Airlines, on the Airbus A320
“Work hard, stay consistent, and keep going even when things do not always happen according to plan. Nothing worth having comes easy.”
2023 · Modular track — MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A)
Vincent Salha
First Officer at Ryanair, on the Boeing 737, based in Charleroi
“NewCAG gave me high-quality training, in a demanding and fully English-speaking environment, which prepared me as well as possible for the requirements of airlines such as Ryanair.”
2024-2026 · Full course — PPL, ATPL theory, NVFR, MEP, IR-ME, Advanced UPRT, CPL(A)
Romain Alexandre
Cadet (First Officer) at Ryanair, on the Boeing 737
“My training at New CAG Air Academy was a fantastic experience, with very professional supervision and a course particularly geared towards line operations, while keeping a real family atmosphere. Work seriously and give the best of yourself, but above all don’t forget to enjoy every moment of this beautiful adventure!”
2011-2012 · CPL, Instrument Rating (IR), Multi-Engine Piston rating (MEP)
Soun Billard
Corporate Pilot with DC Aviation Al Futtaim, on the Airbus A318 Corporate Jet (ACJ), based in Dubai
“An aviation career is rarely a straight line. Never judge your journey by how quickly it begins. Keep working, learning and persevering, and be ready to seize opportunities when they come.”
2019-2022 · Modular track — PPL, ATPL theory, NVFR, MEP, IR-ME, Advanced UPRT, CPL(A), Pilatus PC12 class rating
Alexandre Demoulin
PC12 Captain and PC24 Safety Pilot at EAPC
“It was after my higher education, during a flight in the cockpit of a Boeing 737 alongside my godfather, that I discovered this passion. That experience marked a decisive turning point in my life and led me to train as a pilot at the NEW CAG, before joining EAPC shortly afterwards.”
2022-2025 · Modular track — PPL, ATPL theory, NVFR, MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A)
Tommy Scohy
First Officer at Luxair, on the Dash 8 Q400
“Persevere, never give up, sacrifice your weekends to study — and once all the licences are in your pocket: DARE.”
2021-2025 · Modular track — PPL, ATPL theory, MEP, IR-ME, Advanced UPRT, CPL(A)
William O'Riordan
Joining TUIfly Belgium — Boeing 737 type rating from November 2026
“I am proud of my journey, of having reached my goals and made my dream come true. I am proud of having kept going and persevered even through the harder moments and the doubts; the most important thing is to believe in yourself and to surround yourself with the right people.”
2023-2025 · Full course — PPL, ATPL theory, NVFR, MEP, IR-ME, Advanced UPRT, CPL(A)
Nicolas Meert
Cruise Pilot / Second Officer at Air Belgium, on the Boeing 747
“Never give up, always believe in your dreams and give yourself the means to achieve them.”
2022-2025 · Modular track — ATPL theory, MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A)
Romain Gillain
First Officer at Ryanair, on the Boeing 737 NG/MAX
“Always keep your goal in your sights: it’s an intense but fabulous and exciting journey, and the effort you put in is well worth it. Thank you to the NewCAG for allowing me to achieve my greatest dream!”
2011-2018 · Modular track — PPL, ATPL theory, NVFR, IR, MEP, CPL(A)
Bruno Defraigne
First Officer at ASL Airlines Belgium, on the Boeing 747
“Never give up: it’s a long and demanding training, with many obstacles along the way; always keep the final goal in your sights. I joined an airline at 38 — so if the passion and motivation are there, it’s never too late…”
2013-2014 · Modular track — ATPL theory, IR, CPL, MEP, Flight Instructor rating (FI)
Kévin Rousseau
Pilot at Air France, on the Airbus A220
“Believe in yourself and never give up. The journey may be long but every step you take brings you closer to achieving your dream.”
2020-2025 · Full course — PPL, ATPL theory, NVFR, MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A)
Sander Dethiège
First Officer at Brussels Airlines, on the Airbus A320
“I appreciated the freedom of the training pace which made it possible for me to combine training and a full time job. Combined with discipline and determination, the school offers a perfect setting to achieve the dream of becoming a pilot.”
2022-2025 · Modular track — PPL, ATPL theory, DA-40 rating, NVFR, MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A), Advanced UPRT
Valentin Lonchay
In type rating at Luxair, for a First Officer position on the Boeing 737
“I had the chance to do all my training, from PPL to CPL, at the New CAG, and I couldn't have hoped for better — both for the instructors and for the people I met along the way. Work hard, give it your all, and it will pay off.”
2022-2023 · Modular track — MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A)
Jérôme Warnimont
Head of the Digitalisation and Transformation Department at the Direction de l’Aviation Civile
“Live your passion! Life will put unexpected opportunities on your path.”
2021-2022 · Modular track — MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A), Advanced UPRT
François Lécuyer
Captain and Line Training Captain at SD Aviation (business aviation), on the Diamond DA62
“These missions call for a sound, solid foundation — and I am certain I acquired it at the CAG. Don’t close yourself off to those first jobs, sometimes little known but always highly formative.”
2013-2014 · Modular track — CPL, IR-SE, MEP
Jean Lourtie
Founder of Easy MaPhy (easymaphy.be) — teacher of mathematics, physics and ATPL science subjects
“Take care of your health. It is only when you lose it that you realise you are nothing without it.”
2022-2025 · Full course — PPL, ATPL theory, NVFR, MEP, IR-ME, Advanced UPRT, CPL(A)
Nicolas Coletta
Cadet at Ryanair, on the Boeing 737 NG and MAX
“My time at Air Academy New CAG gave me a strong foundation for an airline environment. I really appreciated the modular structure of the training, which allowed me to progress at my own pace and build my experience step by step.”
2020-2024 · Full course — PPL, ATPL theory, NVFR, MEP, IR-ME, CPL(A), Advanced UPRT
Bart Despiegelaere
First Officer at ASL Airlines Belgium, on the Boeing 737-400 and 737-800
“New CAG really does represent a family of professionals working together towards a common goal. Be willing to never stop learning. It’s the only way to become and stay a good pilot.”
2007-2022 · Modular ATPL (2007-2010), then instructor at the school for several years — CRI-ME, Advanced UPRT, DA-40 and Pilatus PC12/47E ratings
Dean Jahic
PC12 NG/NGX Line Training Captain at EAPC and Senior First Officer at Challenge Airlines, on the Boeing 747-400
“Believe in your dreams. Even when the path is strewn with obstacles, keep moving forward. One day, you will look back with pride and realise that it was all worth it.”
Each entry is published with the alumnus’s written consent; they can ask for changes or removal at any time.
Our alumni fly today with
Did you train here?
Tell us your story in a few lines — your current position, your training years with us, a piece of advice for candidates — at alumni@newcag.be. Nothing is published without your approval of the final text.