Aviators to train staff

 A LOCAL aviation company and an Australian aviation institute plan to provide the Defence Force air transport wing training on aircraft maintenance engineering.

The Regional Aviation Academy and the Queensland Institute of Aviation Engineering held a one-day workshop last week in Port Moresby.

The Air Transport Wing squadron members are likely to undertake practical components of their studies using the Australian institute’s curriculum. 

Academy principal Nick Kuiaha said a 20-week programme undertaken by the air wing in November last year would be completed next month.

Kuiaha said the academy was providing only the theoretical component of the programme due to the lack of funding. It invited the Queensland institute to cater for the practical component.

He said institute managing director Tank Macpherson was invited to present to the air transport wing the practical component of the training of which he will provide.

He said the practical training component would include Certificate Four and is an excellent opportunity for other engineers to obtain B1 and B2 licenses.

“I am hoping that other aviation sectors would appreciate this home-grown initiative and send some of the candidates through our current arrangement rather than to other overseas institutions,” he said.

He said this was in line with one of the five resolutions.