by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert
PHILIPSBURG:--- Airways Aviation Group, headquartered in Dubai UAE is considering establishing an academy in the Caribbean. The Group is a world leader in aviation education & training.
It is estimated that, annually, 300 professionals from the Caribbean region and Latin America will be trained at the Academy in this region. Worldwide, there is a shortage of pilots, air traffic controllers, and other aviation professionals. An estimated pilot shortage of 11,000 in 2024 could increase to 60,000 globally by 2032 if mitigating actions are not taken. As for air traffic controllers, there is a shortage of roughly 4,000 in Europe and the USA alone.
Related to the establishment of an Academy is the prospect for developing new sustainable ‘education tourism’. After all, the participants of the training semesters and workshops need accommodations to stay overnight, transportation, groceries, etc. It is not season-dependent. It contributes to economic diversification.
An interesting example may be the Academy’s operations on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean. Annually, 170 students attend who are visiting from various countries. Each student contributes about US$20,000 to the local economy. The Cyprus government has confirmed a US$3.5 million contribution to their economy in 2023. Assume what the 300-student potential for the Caribbean could mean.
Typically, pilots in the Caribbean are sent twice annually to recurrent safety abroad. This training may entail sending an entire flight department consisting of captains and first officers as well as civil aviation Inspectors to ensure relevance and completeness. Once classroom training is completed, the pilots are put to the test in a simulator to ensure that the crew is able to handle and rectify any potential issue.
The Airways Aviation Group will be looking for an appropriate airport location in the Caribbean from which their training aircraft will operate. Facilities, including classrooms and a room for a flight simulator, will be needed. For the traffic controllers' training, access to a control tower and possibly an air traffic control simulator would be necessary.
An international aviation academy on location may be an inspiration for young people. They may be encouraged to explore educational opportunities in the aviation industry, which can have a significant impact on their future careers and, subsequently, their income level. The volume of aviation professionals' recruitment by the industry is unprecedented. Therefore, after receiving their training, students have an abundance of employment and career choices available to them regionally and internationally.
Airways Aviation is the largest privately owned group of academies delivering professional aviation education and training. It has training facilities in Dubai UAE, Montpellier France, Bremen Germany, Sicily Italy, Istanbul Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Gold Coast Australia, Dakar Senegal, and Hyderabad India.
Airways Aviation has a fleet of more than 70 aircraft and 10 flight simulators. They have trained 9,000+ commercial airline pilots and 26,000+ Cabin, Ground, & Maintenance Graduates. Their training programs meet all international standards including certified EASA, CASA, ICAO, IATA and CAAC facilities deliver ATPLs, CPLs, Bachelor's Degrees, Diplomas, Certificate Courses and Training Programs at the most advanced levels. They match practical and theoretical techniques that are designed to accommodate the increasing global demand for Airline Pilots, Military Pilots, Cabin Crew, Ground Handlers, Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and University-qualified Administrators and Managers.
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