Starting with 2012, Baltic Aviation Academy is set to pay extra attention to the rapidly expanding aviation markets across the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regions as these are responsible for the recent unstoppable growth in demand for qualified aviation personnel. Baltic Aviation Academy has taken the initiative to adapt European standard training programs and assigned its aviation specialists to the regions.
’There is no secret that whilst having developed into exceptionally strong aviation markets the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia and Asia Pacific are still faced with the lack of professionals. Baltic Aviation Academy has been actively participating in aviation events and air shows in an attempt to get fully acquainted with the regional issues, specific requirements and market demands. In several emerging markets we have appointed regional managers. We see these regions as highly promising strategic opportunities for both, cadet and experienced personnel training,’ commented Egle Vaitkeviciute, Chief Executive Manager at Baltic Aviation Academy.
According to the data provided by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the currently existing training institutions prepare only 3200 pilots out of the required 9150 satisfying merely 35% of the entire yearly demand. However, the biggest issue that the region and its carriers are faced with at the moment is the shortage of highly qualified pilots.
The Middle East has already made a progress in 2010 when the region’s air transport industry created direct and indirect employment for 2.7 million people. It also contributed $129 billion to the region’s GDP, according to ATAG. Forecasts suggest that the Middle East does and will continue to attract and, more importantly, retain a sufficient number of adequately trained specialists.
„Currently the academy is developing specialized training programs and selecting a team of instructors dedicated to provide specialized training designed to bridge local requirements with the European standards. We see a huge demand for senior specialists – highly experienced pilots and instructors who could train the excessive number of pilots-beginners in those regions in order to reduce the lack of qualified professionals faster. In terms of resourcing professional aviation training instructors, Baltic Aviation Academy has already achieved major success in the markets across Central Asia, so the next logical step is to address the Asian-Pacific and the Middle-Eastern regions,’ added Egle Vaitkeviciute, the CEO at Baltic Aviation Academy.
Baltic Aviation Academy has started addressing the Asia Pacific market through the Avia Solution Group office in Kuala Lumpur. Moreover, in 2011 the company signed an exclusive partnership contract with the Bird Group, a highly credible Indian aviation and travel sector player. According to the contract terms, the group will support Baltic Aviation Academy‘s activities in the Indian market.
On the 28 – 29th of August Baltic Aviation Academy together with Bird Group will participate in APATS 2012, held in Singapore. As partners they will present the topic entitled ‘Strategic View to Pilot Training: External TRTO Provider VS In-house Base‘.