Who We Are

We are the Portuguese social solidarity association that supports young people who dream of a career in aviation — before, during, and after their vocational training.

Associação Aviação Jovem is a Portuguese social solidarity association dedicated to social action, to promoting culture, and to supporting young people who dream of a career in aviation.

We were born from the belief that training aviation professionals is about far more than teaching technical skills. It is about preparing young people for life, for its challenges, and for the world.

We work in partnership with IITA — the International Institute for Technology & Aviation — to ensure that every young person has both the outstanding technical training and the human support they need to finish their course, to enter the industry, and to build a career there.

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The belief that drives us

There's an idea that persists: that aviation is only for those who can afford it. The truth is otherwise.

Aviation is one of Portugal's largest employers — and the overwhelming majority of careers don't require pilot training. Ground handling specialists, aircraft mechanics, cabin crew, aviation cybersecurity managers, directors of operations, air traffic controllers, among others.

These are dozens of well-paid professions, in strong demand, and accessible to young people from any background — as long as they have access to the right training and the support they need to complete it.

That's what we do: we make sure that access is not the obstacle.

We are the Portuguese social solidarity association that supports young people who dream of a career in aviation — before, during, and after their vocational training.

What We Do

We put inclusion, diversity, and mental health at the heart of our mission.

Aviation is one of Portugal's largest employers — and the overwhelming majority of careers don't require pilot training. Operations technicians, air cargo specialists, ground handling professionals, safety managers, air traffic controllers. These are dozens of well-paid professions, in strong demand, and accessible to young people from any background — as long as they have access to the right training.

Our Vision and Mission

We are the Portuguese social solidarity association that supports young people who dream of a career in aviation — before, during, and after their vocational training. Speak with us to fulfill your dream!

We work on three fronts:

Psychological Support

Psychological support programmes for young people in training — because professional success starts with personal wellbeing, and the pressure of a career in aviation demands resilience. We help you build these skills.

Inclusion and Social Support

Bursaries, mobility support, sponsorship to attend industry events, and mentoring programmes with aviation professionals. We clear the obstacles from the path to ensure that every young person has the opportunity they deserve in aviation.

Cultural Development

Projects in partnership with schools and organisations to broaden horizons — because dreaming of the skies isn't enough. You need your feet firmly on the ground, and your mind ready for the journey.

Our Partnerships

Portuguese roots, European standards.

At IITA, training and employability go hand in hand. Our courses are designed together with active companies and employers, ensuring that what you learn today is exactly what the market demands tomorrow. The result? Programmes that are always up to date, and partners who hire our students directly.

IITA

IITA — the International Institute for Technology & Aviation — is Portugal's pioneering institute in vocational aviation education. Approved by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, aligned with EASA, ICAO, and IATA standards, and partnered with employers such as TAP Air Portugal, Hi Fly, SATA, JTM Group, and DHL, IITA is our training partner.

The relationship is complementary: IITA trains. We support the young people who are training, and we build the missing bridges so that the journey is genuinely accessible to any young person, wherever they live in Portugal.

IITA Summit

We are the organising body behind the IITA Summit, the annual event that brings together students, trainers, industry, associations, and the public sector to shape the future of aviation training in Portugal.

The first edition took place in Beja in 2025 and was defined by two moments: the coming-together of students from our partner schools across the country, and the celebration of Alentejo culture as an inseparable part of who we are. The event later made the cover of the Portugalidade magazine in Jornal de Notícias in November 2025.

The second edition, in October 2026, brings the momentum to the north of the country. In October, in Porto, we will once again show Portugal and the world that Portugal is a benchmark in aviation training.

Plataforma de Aprendizagem Virtual e-IITA

Os estudantes do IITA têm acesso a um ambiente de aprendizagem online completo, que cobre todo o conteúdo curricular do 10.º ao 12.º ano, disponível em qualquer lugar, a qualquer hora.

Our Values

97%

Student Satisfaction Rate

We don't compromise on the rigour of the training, nor on the care for those we train.

Excellence.

A career in aviation is built through a network — of students, trainers, working professionals, partner schools, and employers. We nourish that network.

Community.

We believe aviation can be an engine of social mobility — a career path that changes the course of a life, and by extension, of a family.

Aviation as social transformation.

We believe aviation can be an engine of social mobility — a career path that changes the course of a life, and by extension, of a family.

Aviation as social transformation.

Mais de

anos de experiência

2012

Fundado no Reino Unido

15+

programas disponíveis

Os Nossos Parceiros

EPG Gondomar – Escola Profissional de Formação Técnica

EPALVITO – Escola Profissional de Formação Técnica

APPLA – Associação de Pilotos Portugueses

APAT – Associação de Transitários de Portugal

Safeport – Serviços de Handling e Assistência a Aeronaves

EPG Rio Tinto – Escola Profissional de Formação

JTM Group – Operador de Handling de Carga Aérea

Mesa – Manutenção e Engenharia Aeronáutica88

JIT Group – Soluções em Handling e Carga Aérea

MEP Açores – Movimento Regional de Apoio à Aviação

A Nossa Ambição

A indústria da aviação irá precisar de mais de 800.000 novos profissionais ao longo das próximas duas décadas, segundo as previsões do setor. A Europa, e Portugal em particular, enfrenta um défice significativo. A missão do IITA não é apenas formar indivíduos — é construir a infraestrutura de talento de que a indústria portuguesa de aviação irá depender.

Preparar as pessoas certas com as competências certas para as oportunidades certas.

Com 10 escolas projetadas para 2030, programas a nível de licenciatura e pós-graduação em desenvolvimento, e um alcance internacional já comprovado no Reino Unido e na China, o IITA está posicionado para se tornar a instituição de referência da Europa para o ensino profissional e a formação especializada em aviação.

Perguntas Frequentes

Quando foi fundado o IITA e qual é a sua história?

O IITA (Instituto Internacional de Tecnologia & Aviação) foi fundado em Londres, no Reino Unido, em 2012, e estabelecido em Portugal em 2022. A operação no Reino Unido formou mais de 200 profissionais de aviação em programas especializados de operações de terra, em parceria com entidades como a Menzies Aviation e a Swissport. O IITA é amplamente reconhecido como o primeiro e único pioneiro especialista em formação profissional em aviação em Portugal.

O IITA é aprovado pelo Ministério da Educação, Ciência e Inovação português?

Sim. Os programas de ensino profissional do IITA são aprovados pelo Ministério da Educação, Ciência e Inovação. São lecionados no âmbito do quadro nacional do ensino secundário, permitindo aos alunos completar os estudos do 10.º ao 12.º ano enquanto obtêm simultaneamente uma qualificação profissional em aviação reconhecida pela indústria.

O que diferencia o IITA das outras escolas de aviação em Portugal?

O IITA é atualmente o único instituto de ensino em Portugal e na Europa exclusivamente dedicado à aviação, com programas especializados para o setor. Diferenciamo-nos pela nossa experiência operacional e por uma metodologia integrada com a indústria. Os nossos formadores são profissionais ativos da aviação, os currículos têm uma forte componente prática e imersiva, e os programas foram desenvolvidos para responder diretamente à escassez de competências identificada pela indústria aeronáutica europeia.

O IITA não é uma filial de uma marca global; é um instituto português com padrões europeus (EASA, ICAO, IATA). Destacamo-nos porque os nossos programas são co-criados com a indústria (companhias aéreas e empresas de handling) e focam-se em carreiras de alta procura além da pilotagem, garantindo taxas de empregabilidade próximas dos 100%.

Let's connect

How can we help?

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Foundation: Associação Aviação Jovem

Flying high starts with your feet firmly on the ground.