20 July 2026
Former Emirates Flight Training Academy Head of Training Martin Mahoney has been appointed Head Judge for the Professional Flight Training Awards 2026, organisers Pilot Careers Live have announced.
The awards will be held at the Sofitel Heathrow Terminal 5 on 6 November 2026 and recognise outstanding achievement by student pilots, instructors and flight training organisations.
Mahoney brings almost five decades of aviation experience to the role, having flown Jaguars and Tornado GR1s during a 16-year RAF career before moving into airline operations.
His commercial aviation career included senior training and management positions with MyTravel/Thomas Cook and Emirates, where he served as Senior Vice President Flight Training before becoming Head of Training at the Emirates Flight Training Academy. He retired in March 2025.
Ian Seager, CEO of Pilot Careers Live, said Mahoney’s experience made him “uniquely qualified” to oversee the judging process and recognise excellence across the flight training industry. Mahoney said the awards provide an important opportunity to formally recognise instructors and training professionals who go above and beyond in developing the next generation of airline pilots.
Nominations for the 2026 awards are now open and close on 10 September. Categories include Best Integrated Student, Best Modular ATPL Student, Best Flight Instructor, Rising Industry Star and Achievement Through Adversity.
