Privately Singapore-based engineering support and training firm Mil-Com is teaming up with Singapore’s Republic Polytechnic to provide a diploma course in aircraft maintenance in an effort to cater to increased demand for skilled and qualified maintenance engineers.
The aim is to start the 18-month course in May or June with an intake of 40 students, Mil-Com VP training, Stephen Chung, told ATI at an event today at Mil-Com’s Singapore headquarters to promote the tie-up with Republic Polytechnic.
Mil-Com already provides training courses for industry players such as Singapore Technologies Aerospace but Chung confirms that - because this new course is provided jointly by Republic Polytechnic - the Singapore Government will be subsidising the course.
Republic Polytechnic was keen to team up with Mil-Com because Mil-Com, unlike Republic Polytechnic, is recognised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) as a maintenance training organisation, he adds.
Once students complete the 12-module diploma course in aircraft maintenance they will be free to seek employment at a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organisation of their choice, says Chung, adding that once one has the diploma and some on the job experience one will be permitted to sit the CAAS exam to become a qualified aircraft maintenance engineer.
Republic Polytechnic director of engineering school, Fong Yew Chan, says the Singapore Government’s Ministry of Education will subsidise up to 80% of the diploma course fees for Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents.
Having the government subsidy is important because this is “almost a full-time course” so it will assist companies that are on a tight budget and it will assist those students that are paying their own way, he says.
Fong says the polytechnic has a five-year agreement with Mil-Com, which both sides plan to renew.
Republic Polytechnic wanted to partner with Mil-Com because “we tried to obtain CAAS accreditation but couldn’t and the CAAS aren’t giving it to any polytechnic either”, he adds.
Mil-Com CEO, Eugene Lim, says Singapore’s MRO industry has been experiencing strong growth, which in turn has fuelled demand for skilled and qualified engineers.
The tie-up with Republic Polytechnic aims to cater to that demand, he says.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
Source: FlightGlobal.com
