CHC Ireland shortlisted for Excellence in Aviation Training Award at Aviation Industry Awards 2025

CHC Ireland entered the final judging stage of the Excellence in Aviation Training Award at the Aviation Industry Awards 2025 with a programme that set a distinctive precedent in helicopter engineering apprenticeships — one built not only around technical development but deliberate social purpose.

Partnering with Way2Work, a non-profit charity supported by Tusla, CHC Ireland revived the helicopter apprenticeship model and directed it toward young people from disadvantaged communities, creating structured engineering pathways in an industry where such entry points have historically been limited. The collaboration placed workforce development and community impact at the centre of its training proposition.

The programme reflects CHC Ireland's view that aviation apprenticeships carry significance beyond technical output. By reopening a training model that has historically produced not only skilled engineers but many of the industry's senior executives, the company demonstrated a commitment to restoring and expanding that pipeline with greater intentionality around who it serves and how it is structured.

CHC Ireland's approach combines professional helicopter engineering training with a support framework designed to meet the specific needs of apprentices from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring that access to the programme translates into genuine career progression rather than participation alone. The partnership with Way2Work provided the community infrastructure through which that support was delivered.

CHC Ireland's presence at the Aviation Industry Awards 2025 extended across several categories, with the organisation also shortlisted for the Innovation in Safety and Risk Management Award, the Excellence in People & Workplace Culture Award, and the Operational Excellence in Aviation Award — a breadth of recognition that reflected sustained performance across multiple dimensions of aviation operations.

As anticipation builds for the 2026 awards cycle, who will define the next benchmark for excellence in aviation training?

Visit the Aviation Industry Awards official website to explore all shortlisted finalists, review award categories, and subscribe for updates on Ireland's aviation sector.