Time for a rethink on Australia’s aircraft maintenance industry - 11th September 2017
"It is time for Australian aircraft maintenance training and licensing to be reformed and to meet international standards," suggests Associate Professor Ian Hampson, from the UNSW Business School.
His comments follow a forum of 70 experts from government and industry representatives who grappled with the challenge of reforming Australian aircraft maintenance training and licensing. The forum and workshop was held at UNSW Sydney and organised by UNSW Business School and Regional Development Australia (RDA) Sydney.
"As a matter of urgency, the relevant agencies need to continue to consult, and to arrive at a consistent position about aligning Australian aircraft maintenance training and licensing with international standards," he suggests. "Not to do so will leave Australian industry out of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) boom."
However, he has some provisos, and suggests this depends on:
- The ability of Australia to organize its training and licensing regulatory arrangements.
- Negotiations between the Government and EASA.