RAero & PearlQ launch aviation training joint venture

RAero has entered a joint venture with PearlQ Software and Network Solutions, linking a US aviation training technology company with a Doha-based technology business led by H.E. Sheikh Abdulla Khalifa Al Thani.

The venture will develop digital aviation training products for customers in Qatar, the Middle East, North America and other international markets.

RAero specialises in aviation training software and courseware, while PearlQ brings regional market access, client engagement, programme management and local technical support. Under the arrangement, RAero will provide aviation training content, immersive training platforms and digital learning technology.

The joint venture will target a range of aviation training needs, including interactive computer-based training, aircraft systems instruction, learning management systems and scenario-based procedural training. It will also cover training for civil aviation, military use and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

The move comes as airlines add aircraft, introduce new types and review how they train pilots, cabin crew, maintenance staff and ground operations teams. Training providers have been increasing their use of digital tools as carriers look for ways to deliver instruction across larger, more dispersed workforces.

Leadership team

RAero is led by Chief Executive Officer Brent Birdwell, founder of pilot training company CPaT Global. Birdwell previously served in the US Air Force and later worked in commercial aviation before founding CPaT in the 1990s and leaving the business in 2019.

Its leadership team also includes President Amit Bahuguna, from Uttarakhand in India, who works as a pilot at a Canadian cargo airline flying the Boeing 767, and Chief Product Officer Rahul Jakhmola, who is based in the US.

PearlQ is based in Doha and led by H.E. Sheikh Abdulla Khalifa Al Thani. It is expected to take the regional commercial and support role in the joint venture.

The agreement also sets out a basis for longer-term technological and commercial cooperation. In addition to selling training products, the companies plan to explore joint technology development and regional training initiatives in Qatar, India and other markets.

Training demand

The aviation sector has faced sustained pressure to expand training as fleets grow and operating environments become more complex. Airlines and training providers have also been adapting to demand for more flexible systems that support recurrent learning, standard operating procedures and aircraft familiarisation without relying entirely on classroom-based delivery.

RAero said the joint venture will focus on products including AI-enabled learning support, WebXR environments and digital flight deck training applications. It also develops customised training aligned with airline procedures, operational requirements and branding.

The partnership also has a local policy angle in Qatar. The companies said the venture aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, which emphasises human capital development, technological innovation and a knowledge-based economy.

Birdwell said RAero is developing more interactive and immersive aviation training products following his earlier work in computer-based pilot training. The venture gives the company a route into Gulf markets at a time when aviation groups in the region continue to invest in aircraft, infrastructure and workforce development.

For PearlQ, the agreement adds an aviation training line to its technology activities and links it with a specialist provider with experience in pilot training courseware. For RAero, it provides a local partner in Doha as it looks to build an international business beyond North America.