Channel NewsAsia - 1 hour 34 minutes ago
SINGAPORE: Asia is fast becoming a global leader in the aviation industry with Singapore leading the way in the maintenance, repair and overhaul sector.
And Lufthansa and Temasek Polytechnic are taking advantage of this growth to open a new technical training facility to groom more talent.
Over the last decade, Singapore’s aviation industry has grown by 12 per cent with the aerospace industry reporting a record output of about S$6 billion in 2007.
And that is expected to increase to S$12.6 billion by 2018.
Lufthansa and Temasek Polytechnic have set up a new technical training centre to meet the growing manpower needs of the industry.
This would allow existing mechatronics and electronics engineering students to have the choice to study aircraft maintenance at the centre as an elective.
A full—time diploma in aircraft maintenance will be rolled out in 2009.
Lay—Tan Siok Lie, Director of the School of Engineering at Temasek Polytechnic, said: "We will attach these students to this centre for a six—month training period. This six—month training is embedded into the training programme so that when they graduate, they’ll be able to have a head start in getting the aircraft maintenance licence after they have fulfilled the on the job training portion."
The centre also offers more aircraft—type specific courses for industry professionals to upgrade their skills.
Ralph Kaeding, General Manager of Lufthansa Technical Training, said: "We believe that we can contribute a lot to Singapore’s aviation industry, bring our experience and expertise to Singapore and to the students. And if the students can participate, they can also contribute something to the MRO industry."
The new centre includes workshops, tool stores and computer—based training classrooms.
The centre is fully funded by Lufthansa Technical Training and carries the full range of LTT courses —1500 type courses and 500 in active rotation.
It’s the first partnership between Lufthansa and an academic institution in Singapore.
This training centre is the fourth in the region, with other centres in Manila, Taipei, Hainan, and another partnered tie—up with Ameco in Beijing.
Lufthansa also intends to develop another training centre in Seletar. — CNA/vm