TRAINING SUPPLEMENT
AVIATION’S GOT THE CAREERS – BUT ARE YOU READY?
Now that Covid is receding into being a bad dream and the aviation industry is bouncing back strongly, the aviation press, blogs and websites are abuzz with predictions that we’re facing a massive skills shortage. The only way to address this is by dramatically ramping up training to ensure an ongoing flow of new professionals into the industry
Pilots may be the face of the airline industry .but there are many other opportunities.
WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORDS ‘career’ and ‘aviation industry’ together, the first reaction is to think ‘pilot’. But aviation is an enormous industry and accordingly has a requirement for an imposing spread of skills.
From the front to the rear of an aircraft and from the ground up to its cruise altitude, there are people, skills and jobs that are the ‘wind beneath the wings’ of the industry. These are the maintenance technicians, ground-handlers, loadmasters, despatchers, meteorologists, check-in, passenger handling, cabin crew, pilots, traffic controllers, administration, caterers – the list is a long one and includes such a wide range of skills that almost anyone can find a suitable aviation career in which to get qualified.
Boeing recently released its Pilot and Technician Outlook, which projected a demand for 850,000 new pilots over the next 20 years. This is double the current workforce and the most significant demand in the Outlook’s twelve-year history.
And it’s not only the ‘pointy end’ that will need more people. Maintenance engineer demand is projected at 650,000, and commercial cabin crew a staggering 900,000 people, mostly due to changes in fleet mix, regulatory requirements, denser seat configurations and multi-cabin configurations that offer more personalised service.
NOT JUST PILOTS
Collectively, the business aviation and civil helicopter sectors will also demand an additional 155,000 pilots, 132,000 technicians and 32,000 new cabin crew to support business aviation.
The demand is being driven by an expected doubling of the global commercial fleet, a recordhigh air travel demand and a tightening labour supply.
The forecast also excludes general aviation (GA) requirements which swells the numbers
Costs will continue to be a huge hurdle.
significantly as not every pilot is employed by a carrier, some fly (and own) aircraft purely for small business reasons or the joy of flight.
But the support system for GA is as intensive as for commercial carriers with an ever-growing number of aircraft needing pilots, maintenance, traffic control, administration and supply, as well as airfields to land, and on which to be based.
Boeing’s numbers are in line with industry projections from other bodies given to crystal ball gazing, and they all agree on one inescapable fact – we will have to train millions of new people to fill the slots of a skills-hungry industry. And therein lies our biggest challenge.
To remain viable in facing the challenge, training organisations are dependent on two main resources: an ongoing flow of dedicated new students and a stable supply of qualified trainers. But most of the potential students are unaware of the career opportunities in aviation. And the qualified trainers are constantly being headhunted by the industry to fill the jobs for which they’re training the students. This creates the ‘Catch-22’ revolving door of instructors and gives training organisation management sleepless nights. And there is no quick fix solution to either of these challenges.
TRAINING SUPPLEMENT INTRO skills demand is so wide
not from doing the job, but from enabling and empowering others to do the job. To a large extent, the success of the training component of the aviation industry will rest on the shoulders of the ‘dedicated’ trainers.
Africa also has a massive opportunity in its extensive smart and eager but relatively unskilled population, and it is here that we should look to bridging the skills gap in the aviation industry.
Many Africans are unaware that they could be aviation professionals and those that are, often do not have access to the funds needed for the qualifications. This creates opportunities for a spread of subindustries to increase awareness that their dream is in fact possible and then supply the funding and support mechanisms while the student qualifies. There is also scope for public private partnerships (PPP) where governments could unlock some of their higher education budget to be applied to skills training under administration by approved Aviation Training Organisations (ATOs).
PERSONALITY TYPES
Some enterprising organisations have addressed the problem by creating a career path that elevates successful student graduates to instructor positions. This, to some measure ‘insulates’ them from the head-hunters as they are often invisible to the industry workplace and can also be contracted to their employer with ‘golden handcuffs’ such as scholarships and student loans.
Amongst all of these is the person who is the jewel in the crown of a training organisation – a dedicated trainer. These are people who derive their personal and career satisfaction,
A key advantage for the aviation industry is that there is no special type or basic personality needed for an individual to find a suitable career. The spread of skills demands is so wide that there is likely to be a job for anyone irrespective of their ‘type’.
An aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) and a cabin crew member have vastly differing job requirements and accordingly, to be successful, will needs have very differing basic personas and skills. I cannot imagine an AME asking me if I would like a nice crunchy biscuit with my tea, or if I would prefer the ‘beef or pasta’ as lunch while I wait for the sparkplug gaps to be set.
The organisations who have participated in this supplement are professional, dedicated entities that offer a wide spread of education opportunities, not only for new incumbents into the aviation industry, but also for those wanting to ‘upskill’ to better and more career fulfilling positions.
So, if you’re looking to build a career in aviation, a slow browse through the following pages with a pencil and pad will open up many opportunities for you. The next 20 years are going to show tremendous industry growth with the attendant opportunities for a productive and rewarding career in aviation.
Many young people (and a few older ones), dream about a career in aviation, and there has never been a better time than now to take the action to turn those dreams into reality. j
(SACAA/ATO/1522)
STICK N THROTTLE AVIATION
STICK N THROTTLE AVIATION FLIGHT TRAINING SCHOOL is based in the picturesque Western Cape, at Morningstar airfield. Quietly tucked away in a well-equipped hangar with office facilities as the base of operations. Based at this airfield is the well-known Morningstar Flying Club, which has a traditional family environment with excellent typical flying facilities. The location is a perfect flight training airfield, quiet to allow training without too many distractions, yet the airfield is busy with aircraft movements. Morningstar is only five minutes flight time to the General Flying Area as well as Cape Town International Airport with all the facilities for advanced training. All of this with the silhouette view of Table Mountain as the key reference point for VFR operations.
Flight training is only as good as the experience, knowledge and passion of the instructors. Stick n Throttle prides itself by excelling in all these basic requirements with specialists in each area. Ground school as well as flight training instruction is delivered with the emphasis on quality, not quantity. Ground schooling for all licenses and ratings, NPL through CPL and Instrument ratings are offered. Courses are presented by specialists on each curriculum topic by specialists who ensure that all instruction material is understood and applied. This is not just ‘exam passing’ question practice preparation. Facilities include state of the art training aids with modern briefing equipment
and comfortable lecture facilities. These qualities are all tested and proven within the approved SACAA online examination center for PPL examinations. A new Redbird procedural single-engine simulator is on the premises. The simulator includes both the traditional six-pack instruments and the Garmin G1000 package with worldwide navigation database adds value to procedural and complex aircraft systems training. Simulation may be connected and displayed on the Jeppesen electronic maps and charts.
Comprehensive flight training offered, from the NPL through to ATPL with ratings such as night, instrument and instructor attached to the various licenses. A comprehensive aircraft fleet, from the basic Sling 2 up to and including a complex Piper Turbo Arrow are available, suited for the required training. Whether it is recency, conversion, renewals, or training for a rating or specific license, is what is offered to achieve your personal goal. Stick n Throttle is big enough to perform to the pilot’s specific needs, yet small enough to provide individual care. We make aviation training FUN!
PPL TO ATPL TRAINING AND EVERYTHING
• Now certified for TCAS training.
• RNAV and GNSS
Certified on all flight models from single engine to turbine.
TRAIN ON ONE OF THE MOST MODERN FLIGHT SIMULATORS IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH NEW VFR LEVEL TERRAIN GRAPHICS
CONTACT US OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tel: 011 701 3862
E-mail: info@aeronav.co.za
Website: www.aeronav.co.za SACAA ATO No: SACAA/1110/ATO
PILOT'S GIFT GUIDE –
PILOT'S GIFTS SUPPLEMENT
As the year draws to a close and the festive season approaches, we take the opportunity to showcase some of the many gadgets and essentials that many pilots would like as a Christmas gift.
ONE OF THE MOST desired gifts is the latest technology noise cancelling headset. The big loss to general aviation this year was the withdrawal of the market leading Bose noise cancelling headsets. However Lightspeed offers an excellent alternative as does the evergreen David Clark.
For those whose budgets might not stretch that far, replacement ear-seals and mic. covers are a
great way to make older headsets new again.
All good pilot supply shops are happy to provide a complete service to flying schools, AMOs as well as the public at large.
Even better – all the pilots supply shops in this supplement will gladly provide goods on mailorder and courier them.
Fuselage wines would be a welcome gift.
Here is a list of the most popular items for pilot’s gifts.
• Leatherman knives
• Aviator watches
• Lightspeed and David Clark headsets & accessories
• Icom & Rexon transceivers
• Sunglasses - especially Raybans
• Pilot shirts, trousers, epaulettes
• Swales and Fox One mock exams
• Pooleys excellent Air Pilots manuals
• PPL and CPL study material
• Brightline bags and other flight bags.
• Kneeboards, whizz wheels, protractors, fuel strainer, fuel gauges, pitot covers etc.
• Books and various flying training support DVDs & CDs.
A wide range of aviation theme gifts and accessories – pins, caps, instrument clocks, coasters, picture frames and models.
Fuselage Wines are aviation inspired wines crafted just of the apron of Diemerskraal Airfield near Wellington.
Come on a taste adventure with Fuselage Wines and experience wine from a different perspective.
Handheld VHF radios, Rayban aviators, knee pads, the ASA CX-3 calculator, some of the Pooleys Southern African series and the Delta Zulu headset are a few useful gifting ideas.
CENTURY AVIONICS
Situated at Lanseria International Airport, Century Avionics focuses on general aviation avionics for both fixed - and rotary-wing aircraft. With over 45 years of experience, Century Avionics stands as a leading privately owned avionics establishment in Southern Africa. Aiming to be a comprehensive avionics hub for the general aviation community, delivering top-notch services all in one place. Working in tandem with their skilled and experienced Certification Department, they support Avionics STC Application / Development and Modification Approvals. Century Avionics boasts a skillful design organization (Century NAVCOM) that is recognized by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). Loyal customers can vouch for their professional dedication, promptness, and amicable service.
The Aircraft Maintenance Organization (AMO) have secured approval in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, streamlining the avionics installation and approval process for various aviation authorities.
valid till 31 December 2024
