New Zealand’s air navigation service provider Airways has officially opened a new purpose-built training centre in Palmerston North. The centre will enhance Airways’ already-successful strategy to attract overseas students.
Featuring three aerodrome air traffic control simulators and six radar simulators, the new centre aims to cater for increasing demand for qualified air traffic controllers globally.
Already 32 students from Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Civil Aviation are using the facility. They are undertaking ab initio courses and will be joined by colleagues from the Saudi Arabian national guard next month.
Airways Head of Training Sharon Cooke said: “At the moment we’ve got particularly strong interest from the Gulf States and Asia in our training services. We’ll be busy throughout the year at the Palmerston North Centre, and we’ll also continue to host and train students and groups at our flagship Christchurch training facility.”
Airways NZ was recently awarded ICAO Trainair Plus certification for quality assurance. The Palmerston North centre operates in conjunction with Airways’ Christchurch centre.
