Who are we

Where aviation meets human potential. Being AAP means redefining excellence in the aviation industry by embodying a people-centric approach. 

At AAP Aviation, we specialize in recruitment, total crew management, and operations support, providing a seamless experience for our candidates, our clients and their passengers. But beyond the ordinary, we strive to create a lasting impact from a people's perspective.

Also part of our family

Our technology company
Zymfonix

Our pilot school
Pilot Flight Academy

Our approach

The combination of our global reach and local knowledge enables us to exponentially improve as the sum of our combined efforts and experience. We have invested in sophisticated HR tools and fine-tuned processes to provide operational excellence at a reasonable price.

Vision and values

The AAP DNA

Our values are the cornerstones in our daily work. Every decision and face-to-face encounter with people around the world should reflect the AAP Aviation core value: All About People.

Our shared values of responsibility, team orientation, friendliness and always being on are meant to drive our behavior and signify how we interact with our peers and do business.

This is what defines the AAP us:

We are All About People.

Mission

To contribute to the success of our customers – it’s all about people!

Vision

To be the leading aviation management company on a global scale – we shape the future of aviation.

Values

Responsible: We place great value on safety and minimizing our environmental impact for future generations.

Teambuilders: Each one of our team members is a vital asset. The team is always stronger than the individual.

Friendly: It’s what keeps us in business. Being friendly is simple to live by, and best of all – it’s free!

Always on: We aim to stay ahead of the game by being focused, in control, innovative and committed.

Our history

After a fantastic career in aviation and achieving his goal as a Captain and Chief Flight Instructor in SAS, Espen Høiby felt the call to look for new horizons – this time on the ground.

Inspired by the maritime and offshore industry, and the idea of creating opportunities, flexibility and safety for those flying, Espen founded AAP Aviation in 2013.

We entered the market with a wish to renew the aviation industry, by introducing a new business model of how to attract, employ, and manage crews as a long-term and responsible employer. AAP Aviation has in record time grown from zero to over 6000 employees, and today we have several regional and international airlines on our customer list.

We have also entered into close cooperation with a number of international organizations and acquired a network of flight schools, to ensure a robust pipeline of future talent.

Our leadership team

Here at AAP Aviation, we are serious about surrounding ourselves with bright, experienced people who can help us grow our business. We seek to build and maintain our management team with a wide range of experiences and competencies. We look for people who are passionate about the industry and our current strategies and can help us adapt them to our ever-growing markets.

  • Espen Høiby is our founder, owner and CEO. He is a former airline captain and management executive from SAS.

    Høiby has a MBA from IMD in Switzerland and more than 40 years of people-passion, entrepreneurship and in-depth knowledge from the aviation industry. He started his career in aviation as a pilot for Norving in 1983, before joining SAS in 1986 - where he had a 28-year career.

    With a strong track-record of successfully introducing innovative and disruptive business models and technological developments to the commercial airline industry, Espen brings forth infinite turnaround management-, business development- and executive experience from major airlines and aviation training centers.

    Set to continue driving positive change to the industry and challenge the existing to meet future needs, Espen has transformed AAP Aviation to become a more comprehensive aviation company by taking a position in the Advanced Air Mobility Domain and the future of aviation.

  • Fredrik Grorud Øygard has long experience within the aviation industry. He has held various leading positions within the Norwegian Group, latest as Managing Director of the pilot companies in Scandinavia and CCO of the Norwegian Resource Group. He holds an Executive MBA from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) in Bergen, and a degree in Business and Economics from the UK.

  • Fredrik Randgaard joined AAP Aviation on June 1st, 2017 as Project Manager, and has been working closely with AAP Aviation’s Top Management Group in developing and implementing strategic initiatives and with corporate communication.

    Fredrik Randgaard has 10 years of experience from various positions in the Navy and in the Armed Forces, and he holds a degree in military studies from the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, specializing in leadership, economics, logistics, and resource management.

  • Stine joined AAP Aviation in February 2016, and has since then worked with HR and recruitment of pilots, cabin crew and aircraft technical personnel.

    She holds a master's degree in Leadership and organizational psychology from BI Norwegian Business School, and has previous experience working as cabin crew.

  • Mads is an innovative leader with a strong technical background, including a Ph.D. in Automation & Robotics. His professional experience includes research and development within different industries, including academia, manufacturing, oil & gas, and aviation.

  • With over 25 years of experience, Frode is a clear and direct financial manager, and joined AAP Aviation in April 2024. His professional background encompasses nearly a decade in the aviation fuel industry, along with significant experience in retail, supply and distribution, and telecommunications. Frode has held positions as Board Director, as well as various board memberships. He holds a BA (Hons) degree in Business Studies from the University of Stirling.

Awards, accolades and associations

  • We have AAP Aviation staff who are British Psychological Society (BPS) approved Ability (aptitude) and Personality Test Users and Administrators. The approval is Europe wide.

    All testing and results handling follow ethical guidelines issued by the BPS.

  • As part of our innovation mandate and business mantra, we have been awarded a research and development grant from the government of Norway to conceptualize, advance, and deliver a fully-integrated technology platform that will effectively manage all HR related tasks for recruitment and selection and create a high-performing, customizable and scalable structure for high volume talent recruitment activities.

    The grant was awarded upon a successful review of the potential of the technology to promote innovation for the use of trade and industry, public and private administration, public actors in addition to further use by the national, regional, and global research communities. The scheme also aims to mobilize Norwegian research and innovation projects for the EU research and Innovation Program.

    • ERA (European Regional Aviation Association)

    • AIRE (Airlines International Representation in Europe)

    • Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce

    • British Norwegian Chamber of Commerce

    • Norwegian Spanish Chamber of Commerce

Locations & Infrastructure

Norway – HQ
Sweden
Denmark
Finland
United Kingdom
Ireland
France
Germany
Spain
Thailand
Singapore
India
Hong Kong
Philippines

* Operations worldwide