Exclusive Interview: Steve Bentley FRAeS on Sofema Aviation Services' Unrivalled Online Training Position

Interviewer: Today, we're speaking with Steve Bentley, FRAeS, CEO of Sofema Aviation Services (SAS), as the organisation approaches a landmark of 40,000 enrollments in 2025. Steve, congratulations on this incredible growth.

The Low-Cost Training Revolution

Interviewer: Sofema has achieved an unrivalled position in the industry, driving daily regulatory training costs down to below €5 per student per training day. This is unprecedented. How have you managed to achieve this phenomenal cost reduction while maintaining quality?

Steve Bentley: Thank you. It’s a combination of scale, efficiency, and a dedicated platform strategy. We've essentially become the online equivalent of a low-cost airline in aviation training.Our massive enrollment base, now approaching 35,000 to 40,000 per year, is the core factor. When you have that level of volume, the fixed costs of content creation, platform maintenance, and administration are distributed across tens of thousands of users, drastically reducing the cost per unit.

The CFP 7 Model: Efficiency Through Automation

Interviewer: Your case study highlights the CFP 7 (Company Flexi Package), which seems to be the key mechanism. Could you explain how the CFP 7 and its structure of 7 concurrent users allow for this low price point?

Steve Bentley: The CFP 7 is a game-changer for companies. The Annual Cost is €9,960 for the package. The "secret" is maximising the utilisation of those 7 concurrent user slots across 6 active training days per week.

• This model provides a total of 2,184 Available Online Days of Training annually.

• When you divide the annual cost by the available training days, the Cost Per Student Per Training Day drops to €4.56.

The key for our clients, as the case study notes, is having an admin enrollment person who actively manages the program to ensure those 7 slots are always occupied. By keeping the utilisation rate high, our clients unlock this incredible value. It’s an efficient, managed service.

 

Addressing Industry Needs and Growth

Interviewer: You mention that clients, like Philippine Airlines, initially took 10 slots and have now moved to 20 slots. This suggests a significant return on investment and satisfaction. How does this model address the comprehensive regulatory training needs of a large MRO or airline?

Steve Bentley: Absolutely. The value is undeniable. For that single annual cost, a company can manage its entire 145 training requirement, covering both EASA and GCAA regulations. It’s a complete solution for both initial and recurrent regulatory compliance training. The growth, like with Philippine Airlines, demonstrates that once a company sees the effectiveness and the savings, it immediately scales up. They recognise that €4.56 per training day is an unbeatable price for the quality and scope of the training we provide (as shown in our A-to-Z course list on Sofema Online).

 

Long-Term Strategy and Client Loyalty

Interviewer: Sofema is clearly focused on long-term client relationships. Could you elaborate on the tiered discount structure for returning clients?

Steve Bentley: We believe in rewarding loyalty and demonstrating the long-term benefit of partnering with us.

• Clients receive a 10% discount on the second year.

• And a further 5% discount (for a total of 15% off the original price) on the third year and onwards.

This ensures that the already industry-low cost continues to decrease for our most loyal partners, securing a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship as they manage their regulatory training requirements year after year. It's part of our commitment to making high-quality, compliant aviation training accessible and affordable globally.

Learn More About the Corporate Freedom Pass (CFP)

The Corporate Freedom Pass is Sofema Online’s enterprise solution that provides flexible, organisation-wide access to SOL’s 400+ specialist aviation courses. It’s designed to make competence management simple, scalable, and cost-effective, with straightforward governance and reporting to satisfy quality, safety, and regulatory stakeholders. Please see Sofema Online (SOL) or email team@sassofia.com for support.