Airports Fiji builds capacity for regional aviation students
Airports Fiji Limited will train seven regional aviation students in Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) over the next 10 weeks at the AFL Aviation Academy in Nadi. AFL general manager Air Traffic Management and Aviation Training, Isei Tudreu, said as the regional leader in aviation, it is the duty of AFL to share this knowledge with our neigbhours.
Mr Tudreu said this area of specialised training will enable our regional partners to meet international civil aviation standards which AFL is providing at a cost. “We have one student from Tuvalu and six from Kiribati who are here to up skill and build their capacity in this vital aspect of air traffic service,” he said.
“This course is tailor made for the specific requirements of Kiribati and Tuvalu. As the regional hub we are best positioned to provide a cost effective course.
“In Nadi’s Flight Information Region (FIR) which covers six million square kilometres, we provide air traffic management for Kiribati, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. “These trainings allow our neigbhours to provide an effective and efficient air traffic service for aircraft in their own countries. “We have some of the best trainers for this and have the capacity to create a warm learning environment for other pacific island countries.” Mr Tudreu said there has been a growth in training requirements for regional countries which AFL has been providing since the inception of the Aviation Academy in 2011.
The seven regional students together with three locals will go through six weeks of theory and four weeks of simulator training.
The Aviation Academy is certified under the Fiji Air Navigation Regulation (ANR) 1981 under regulation 145B as an Aviation Training Institute and is also registered and recognised by the Fiji Higher Education Commission.