Aviation Australia has opened enrolments for maintenance training diplomas in Western Australia under a state government scheme.
The company said it had been awarded a contract from WA’s Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD) to offer a nationally recognised aircraft maintenance course across the state.
The DTWD is subsidising the courses as part of its “Jobs and Skills WA” scheme.
Aviation Australia said the training would be delivered under its Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Part 147 Maintenance Training Organisation (MTO) approval, with both the Mechanical and Avionics Diploma of Aeroskills offered. This was coupled with Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) Part 66 B1 and B2 licencing.
“Aviation Australia is proud to be awarded this publicly funded state contract by DTWD, we will be providing a much needed service for businesses in WA to develop the skills and qualifications of their apprentices and trainee engineers,” Aviation Australia business development manager Paul Jones said in a statement on Wednesday.
“These courses are not just training for the industry needs now, they’re training for the industry’s future capability. Aviation Australia is invigorating the industry and providing the crucial outcomes to keep aircraft flying safely,” said Paul Jones.
Established by the Queensland Government in 2001, Aviation Australia trains avionics and mechanical technicians and has expanded beyond Brisbane to locations in Cairns, Jakarta, Melbourne, Riyadh, Shanghai and Sydney. The company also offers flight attendant and pilot training.
Aviation Australia said its training courses under the DTWD “Jobs and Skills WA” scheme was expected to start in mid-2018.
“CASA Part 66 theory training will be delivered within the Aviation Australia metro-based training facility, whilst practical competency and experience will be assessed on-site in the employer’s Approved Maintenance Organisation (AMO),” Aviation Australia said.
In addition to the DTWD subsidising the cost of training, Aviation Australia said there was also travel and accomodation allowances for those from remote locations. The training company would be servicing all 10 regions within the state,
“Employers can hire a trainee engineer and after a few years, providing they meet the CASA theoretical and practical requirements; they will exit their traineeship as a qualified aircraft maintenance engineer and will be eligible to apply for a CASR Part 66 licence,” Jones said.
“This enables them to supervise and certify for maintenance, as well as release aircraft from maintenance. It’s significantly advantageous for employers who can now grow their operational capability, thanks to the assistance from the WA government.”
Boeing 2017-2036 Pilot and Technician Outlook, published in July 2017, showed there was a need for 637,000 new commercial airline pilots, 648,000 airline maintenance technicians and 839,000 new cabin crew members around the world over the next two decades.
The Asia Pacific would comprise the largest source of demand with 40 per cent of new pilots, 39 per cent of technicians and 37 per cent of cabin crew to be recruited in the region between now and 2036.
Aviation Australia awarded WA government training contract
