GREAT PARTNERSHIP: Abdul Aziz (third left), Amirudin (second right) and Indra (second left) showing a united front following the MoU signing ceremony together with PPKS executive director Baharudin Abdullah (third right), APR-ATC assistant general manager (corporate affairs) Mohd Afandi Ghazali (right) and Hornbill Skyways director of human resource & administration Juiata Abdullah (left) who served as witnesses to the MoU. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Around 2,000 aviation maintenance engineers and technicians are required in the state by 2020 to cater to the growing demand for qualified aviation personnel.
Aero Precision Resources-Aviation Training Centre (APR-ATC) Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Amirudin Abdul Ghani said that with the availability of airlines such as Malaysia Airlines, MASwings, AirAsia and most recently Malindo Air, there is a pressing need for qualified aircraft engineers – with approximately 16,000 needed throughout the country within the next seven years.
“With the expansion of these airlines, we noticed that there were not many aviation engineers and technicians in east Malaysia. Therefore, we want to close the gap in east and west Malaysia in terms of the shortage of these engineers,” he told reporters following the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sarawak Skills Development Centre (PPKS), APR-ATC and Hornbill Skyways at a leading hotel here yesterday. PPKS was represented by its chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Abdul Aziz Datuk Husain, APR-ATC by Amirudin and Hornbill Skyways by its director of engineering Indra Utama Kamaroedin (for Hornbill Skyways executive chairman Datuk Aidan Wing).
The MoU will allow the three organisations to collaborate in the implementation of the Technical Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (TAME) programme – a first in Sarawak – with PPKS as the learning centre and APR-ATC providing competent and certified trainers to deliver the training programme.
“We are looking to start this programme within this year and to take in about 250 students a year depending on the capacity,” Amirudin revealed.
Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz said that the partnership will ensure that uttermost effort is given towards the success of TAME by providing facilities, licence, equipment, trainings and other necessary requirement for this programme.
“APR-ATC will prepare the students for the aircraft maintenance licence examination of Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) Malaysia and also to establish an approved training organisation under the approval of DCA Malaysia for PPKS.
“On the other hand, Hornbill Skyways will be cooperating in terms of providing facilities and allowing the use of its premises for teaching and training purposes as well as to provide on-the-job training for a hands-on practical experience for attachment students,” he explained.
TAME, which is open to school leavers aged 18 to 25, is an intensive traineeship programme comprising classroom sessions and workshop practices. This programme will lead to DCAM Part 66 Category A and B for Fixed and Rotor Wings Aircraft which is pre-requisite technical qualification for those seeking employment as licensed aircraft maintenance engineers.
For diploma holders in engineering fields, TAME will take three years to complete while school leavers with SPM/O’Level with 5 credits including English, Mathematics, Physics, Bahasa Melayu and other science subjects will take four years to complete.
Applicants must be physically and mentally fit with good eyesight and not colour blind.
For further enquiries, interested individuals are encouraged to visit PPKS at Tabuan Jaya from Monday to Friday during office hours (8am to 5pm) or call 082-364198 or the hotline at 1800-88-1157. Alternatively visit the website at www.ppks.edu.my for more information.