[Peetwo]

And so; down the rabbit hole.

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• • Accidents and Inquiry, ASA, ATSB, Aunty Pru - First solo, CASA, Minister for Transport,Senate Estimates - Unplugged
  
  
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Former ASA trough feeder Rustle's got DPM McComical's ear -   

Via the Oz:

Shortage of pilots, engineers threatens aviation industry viability

The Australian


Shortage of pilots, engineers threatens aviation industry viability. Transport Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack. Picture: AA

The government is examining an industry report that warns the shortage of qualified pilots and maintenance engineers is a “major issue” for Australia’s aviation system

“Urgent action is required if the country is to avoid major disruptions,” according to the report, obtained by The Australian and written by a panel chaired by Australian Aviation Associations Forum chair and former Airservices boss Greg Russell.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has welcomed the industry report. He said he had written to Education Minister Simon Birmingham to highlight the recommendations and note the value of the report “as a snapshot of industry views regarding Australia’s aviation workforce training needs”.

“Adequate training and retention of aviation professionals are keys to ensuring continued growth of all sectors of the Australian aviation industry and the government supports efforts by industry to find longer-term and sustainable solutions,’’ Mr McCormack, also the Infrastructure and Transport Minister, said.

The report warns that Australia “does not have an aviation training system capable of meeting the requirements of the industry now, or in the years ahead”.

The training system “suffers from a lack of strong policy direction and co-ordination”, it says.

The report also cites concerns about the availability of flying instructors and the cost of doing pilot training or engineering courses. The report recommends moves including the development of a “career pathway program” from initial training to early flying to going to the major airlines. Among recommendations, the panel said it wanted Canberra to look at financial “relief” for flying schools that mostly do flight training.

The report calls for the Department of Education and Training to take the lead in reform of aviation training, ensure qualifications from graduates can be recognised, and raise the VET student loans limit for trainee ­pilots, and ensure the VET scheme is “more tightly targeted”.

Mr McCormack said he welcomed the pilot training programs being done by Regional Express and Virgin. He was confident the Qantas plan to open a new pilot training facility this year “will make a substantial contribution to both the national pilot workforce and the local economy of the location”.

The expert panel included QantasLink, Virgin, Rex’s Australian Airline Pilot Academy, Aviation Australia, Basair Aviation College, Aircraft Structural Contractors, and the regional aviation industry body.

Last month a plan produced by the General Aviation Advisory Group had highlighted pressures included an ageing workforce and competition for personnel.

MTF...P2