Georgetown: Employees of domestic air carrier Air Services Limited (ASL) were selected earlier this year to be the first batch of engineering students of the Aeronautical engineering school at the ASL hanger at Ogle International Airport (OAI). New classes are expected to commence on 4, January, 2016.
The students, who began training and studies since last year, began the official round of the programme in October, when the school received its certification from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
As part of their training, which has already closed for the year, the students on Thursday flew from the OIA to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), to meet with engineers of Caribbean Airlines (CAL), where they were given practical experiences into the operations of major aircraft. The first batch was introduced as ASL launched its Aeronautical Engineering School.
ASL Manager Annette Arjoon-Martins disclosed that since June 16, 2003, ASL has been actively engaged in the development of its Maintenance and Engineering Personnel through a wide array of training initiatives.
The Maintenance Division of ASL accumulated an insurmountable wealth of expertise, experience and resources in the field of maintenance training in the course of meeting its own needs for skilled Maintenance Technicians and Engineers to support the fleet of fixed and rotor-wing aircraft.
Since 2008, CAL has been collaborating with the local aviation sector by lending support to train young aspiring Aircraft Maintenance Engineers via its Internship (Work study) Program. This program has seen the development of many young Guyanese looking to establish a career in the Industry. Out of this synergy, Students of the local Engineering School have moved unto other related aviation agencies across the globe while others have been absorbed by Caribbean Airlines and the local aviation industry.
As recent as October 2015, CAL employed four trainees as Aviation Technicians. They are; Jerick Austin
Surrendra Udiaram, Abdul Khan and Sherwin King
Arjune-Martins said the training is well rounded with both theoretical and practical instructions while allowing scope for engineering pilots.
She explained that students joining the School will have an unprecedented opportunity to obtain the required basic theoretical knowledge while building professional capacity and hands on experience on Guyana’s largest and most diverse fleet of fixed and rotor-wing aircraft.
“Our Instructors are all home grown practicing Engineers directly employed with ASL’s Maintenance Division. These Engineers are highly qualified and licensed by the GCAA on a wide range of fixed and rotor wing aircraft. The fixed wing airplanes include ten Cessna 208, four Cessna 206, three Cessna 172, three BN2A Islanders, two SR2 Thrush Commander, one Piper Arrow and the rotor-wing aircraft includes the Bell 206 Long Rangers, and one Robinson R44,” she underscored. “ For our Ab-Initio Students, we sought to enhance the curriculum by collaborating with Caribbean Airlines (CAL), to give them the necessary exposure to the basics of large pressurized airplanes.
In keeping with its Corporate Social Responsibility, CAL facilitated a “Large Pressurized Aircraft” Familiarization Training Program” which consists of the following components; Theoretical Classroom Sessions that captures an overview of; Ramp Safety awareness around a large aircraft, and Airframe and Engine systems found on large airplanes.”
Adding that the essence of the program is to enhance understanding and assimilation of the structural makeup and systems that are commonly found on such an aircraft, the ASL manager said looking to the future, the company remains committed to producing Maintenance Engineers and Technicians of a quality that can continue to uphold our tradition of safety and while keeping steadfast to ASL’s Aeronautical Engineering School mission, which is: “To contribute to the stability and sustainability of Air Services Limited (ASL) and the wider Aviation Industry by the Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Personnel we produce”.
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