Thai AirAsia has signed a collaborative agreement with Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep and Bangkok Aviation Center (BAC) by Bangkok Aviation Center Co., Ltd. to provide aircraft mechanic development course, offering an intensive 1-year course and the opportunity to be immediately employed by Thai AirAsia.
Mr. Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia, said the aviation industry is experiencing rapid growth, especially in the low-cost carrier segment as it fits the modern lifestyle of travellers. The expansion has created high demand for experts in the sector, including aircraft mechanics to support the operations of growing companies. Thai AirAsia currently employs 321 aircraft mechanics, 105 are aircraft engineers while the other 216 are maintenance personnel, all managing the airline's 54 (to be 58 by the end of 2017) Airbus A320s. The company is targeting to hire 100 more mechanics over the next 3 years.
While the airline has been open to recruiting graduates in the field for some time, it has been struggling to find qualified personnel that fit with its demand. To smoothen this bottleneck this, Thai AirAsia initiated collaboration with Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep, an institution that already provides European
? ? Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standard aircraft mechanic course, as well as BAC, a leading aviation training provider. Thai AirAsia is determined that the cooperation will produce quality and standard-meeting aircraft mechanics that can respond to its exacting needs.
Dr. Sathit Puttachaiyong, President of Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep,explained about the collaboration that the institute has a clear plan for producing aircraft maintenance personnel and its faculty have been accredited according to EASE PART 147 standards. Earlier this year it received accreditation according to EASA PART 66 CAT B 1.1 standards to launch aircraft maintenance training but has so far been unable to meet the high demand of the aviation industry. The new course with Thai AirAsia and BAC will be the university's second for the maintenance for aircraft.
"Our university is very happy to see the educational and corporate sectors coming together to produce aircraft mechanics and is glad to be working with Thai AirAsia and BAC. Thailand is still in need of a large amount of aircraft mechanics and must keep up with other countries in the region such as China, Singapore and Malaysia, which already have aircraft maintenance centers and have been producing mechanics for some time. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has indicated Asia will require over 40,000 employees for its flight sector, including mechanics. It is thus imperative that Thailand begins to rapidly produce quality personnel for the industry," Dr. Sathit said.
Wg. Cdr. Piya Tregalnon, Chief Executive Officer of BAC said that the collaboration is the center's first training and educational course in aircraft mechanics. He explained BAC is also Thailand's first private aviation training academy and trains commercial airline pilots as well as provides courses for private pilot licenses, instrument rating, multi-engine rating and pilot instruction, making it an expert in the field of producing quality aviation staff. At the same time, the center has many experienced aircraft mechanics for the maintenance of its training aircraft that are ready to contribute to the new course. Participants in the course will receive hands-on practice at BAC.
The Student Aircraft Mechanic course is a short term course that takes only 1 year. Applicants must have a Bachelor's Degree in engineering or comparable certification in automotive engineering or electrical engineering. Those accepted will study fundamental aircraft maintenance at Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep, an institution under Rajamangala University Krungthep, for 6 months before engaging in practical training at BAC for 3 months and receiving on-the-job training with Thai AirAsia for 3 months. The 12-month course is specifically
? ? designed to meet the needs of Thai AirAsia and students will receive a salary from the airline like other employees during their training.
Interested individuals can find information and download an application form atwww.airasia.com/recruitment today until 31 July 2017. The course begins October 16, 2017.
Photo Caption
(From left) Dr. Sathit Puttachaiyong, President of Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep; Mr. Banyat Hansakul, Director of Engineering of Thai AirAsia; and Wg. Cdr. Piya Tregalnon, Chief Executive Officer of BAC, ink a joint agreement to officially launch the aircraft mechanic development course on July 3, 2017.