Steve Nichols
Aviation industry sources say there is a shortage of qualified and licensed avionics engineers and it appears to be getting worse.
Appearing at Farnborough are three organisations hoping to change that, but they admit it is an uphill struggle.
Allan Keevil of the Association of Aerospace Universities (Hall 1, Stand C5) says: "Our job is to encourage as many undergraduates as possible to take aerospace courses.
"Any course with the word 'aerospace' in it is fairly well subscribed, but substitute 'avionics' and it's a different story."
David Wade, of Kingston University, agrees and adds: "Electronics just doesn't have a sexy image anymore - it's lost out to computing."
His comments are echoed by Peter Martin of the Association of Colleges of Aerospace Technology, on the stand next door, who says: "Someone really needs to make a concerted effort to train more people in aerospace technology, especially avionics.
"I would like to see that initiative come from employers - after all, they are the ones who need the staff," he adds.
But there are industry initiatives in place and you do not have to look far to find them. Stand C3 in Hall 1 is home to First Partnership, which supports business and education in developing joint projects. The organisation works on the principle "catch them young".
Working with five to 16-year-olds, First Partnership gives local schools the chance to work on real engineering projects.
Manager Roger Buck says: "We recently worked with British Aerospace on a number of projects involving the Harrier. Our secondary students were given the same problems as BAe's engineers, such as the best way of moving the aero around the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.
MARVELLOUS
"The students thought it was marvellous and learned a lot," he adds.
But do initiatives like this work? If you visit the First Partnership stand, take a closer look at the model of the Red Arrows Hawk hanging from the ceiling. It was built by teenager Richard Chant of Wavell School, just a stone's throw from the airshow site. He has now taken up an apprenticeship at Boscombe Down, so something must have captured his imagination.
Source: Flight Daily News
