Edition 17, August-September 2003

Aircraft engineer scholarships for regional Australia

Young people in regional Australia have a new incentive to pursue a career as an aircraft maintenance engineer.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is sponsoring eight special scholarships for apprentices training to become Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.

The scholarship program is a new initiative to help reduce the shortage of Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers in regional Australia.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority Acting Director of Aviation Safety, Bruce Gemmell, says it is difficult for young people to train as Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers in regional areas because most educational facilities are in capital cities.

'This means apprentice Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers are at a disadvantage compared to their city cousins because they have to travel to complete courses and often pay more for text books and tools,' Mr Gemmell said.

'These scholarships will help one apprentice Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer from each state and territory by providing $1000 each year for three years towards essential costs.

'The money will cover expenses such as professional quality tools, mandatory text books or travel and accommodation costs for courses,' Mr Gemmell said.

The scholarship program has been developed as part of its commitment to supporting the growth and development of the aviation industry.

'This is a modest scholarship program that will be a big help to an important group of young apprentices.

'The Civil Aviation Safety Authority sees this as an investment in the future because apprentices are critical to a high performance aviation maintenance industry.

'Engineers are the lynch pin of aviation safety and they are needed in regional Australia where aviation is an essential transport link for many communities,' Mr Gemmell said.

Applications for the scholarships will be assessed by an expert panel made up of representatives from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association and the New Apprenticeships Scheme.

For more information contact the Civil Aviation Safety Authority at www.casa.gov.au

 

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