Asia Pacific aviation growth presents training opportunities

Asia Pacific aviation growth presents training opportunities for New Zealand.

‘Reports released internationally in recent months about the growth in Asia Pacific aviation suggest that our aviation training sector has a bright future’, said Aviation NZ Chief Executive, John Nicholson.

But we can’t take anything for granted. While we have trained pilots for the international market for over 100 years, many countries are pursuing opportunities to provide cabin crew, engineering and pilot training to the Asia Pacific region. It is a very competitive market.

Some of the reports:

Boeing’s 2017 market outlook estimates 16,050 new aircraft will go into Asia/Pacific in the next 20 years, Airbus puts it at 14,280.

Asia/Pacific is predicted to need between 220,000 and 253,000 new pilots and between 228,000 and 256,000 new engineers in commercial aviation in the next 20 years, according to Boeing and Airbus.

Boeing predicts Asia/Pacific will need 308,000 new cabin crew by 2036.

Bombardier, which focuses on the 60 to 150 seat aircraft segment, predicts Asia Pacific will take 4200 new aircraft in the next 20 years.

Honeywell predicts good turbine helicopter sales into Asia/Pacific but from a low base.

Common to all reports - new aircraft will be more efficient. Older, less efficient aircraft will be retired.

IATA predicts that global air traffic will double by 2036 and that half this growth will occur in Asia Pacific, which has implications for air traffic control.

The major aviation countries in the Asia/Pacific region cannot meet their training needs locally. Several companies have set up or bought pilot training companies in Australia and South Africa. Some Asian airlines have set up cadet programmes with trainers in Australia and the United States.

CTC Aviation, now L3 Airline Academy (NZ), is a stand out example of an international company which has set up in New Zealand and is training pilots for a broad range of airline customers.

Some other New Zealand trainers have now secured pilot training contracts with airlines. We are also seeing Asia Pacific companies sending their engineers to New Zealand for engineering training - be it basic training or specialist training.

ENDS

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