Transport

First public flying school set to plug pilot shortage

air

Workers at the Nanyuki Airstrip push a small aircraft for maintenance. With a burgeoning middle class, demand for air travel has increased and with it a shortage of pilots. PHOTO | FILE

Private aviation colleges have dominated the local industry for decades, but that is set to change soon as the government plans to open the first public school.

The institution will be part of the East African School of Aviation (EASA), a division and a training school of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA).

KCAA spokesman Mutia Mwandikwa says the authority hopes to have the school operational by 2017. But the inauguration date will also depend on “many things, among them, how fast the project will move”.

The institute will be the first government-owned flying school, after Soroti Flying School –which was co-owned by three East Africa Community countries but was taken over by Uganda after the community collapsed in 1977.

The project, which is in its infancy stages, will, however, involve public-private partnerships. KCAA is presently looking for project advisors.

The project aims at increasing the capacity of pilots in the aviation industry to match the growth being experienced in the international and local aviation industry.

Mr Mwandikwa says the school will also help address the shortgae of pilots in the industry.

“The country has a number of private flying schools, but they have no capacity of developing the number of pilots needed in the country,” he said.

“The government flying school does not aim at competing with the private schools but to supplement what is currently available. For instance, the flying school will offer the course at a subsidised rate to ensure that we have more people enrolling for the course.”

According to Mr Mwandikwa, the growth in the aviation industry has led to an increased demand for pilots, both internationally and locally.

The growth of the aviation industry is largely seen as a result of the growing economy and the burgeoning middle-class, who prefer air to road travel.

The discovery of mineral resources, especially oil, in Kenya has also led to the growth of the industry. This is because explorers and other interested parties frequent the country in pursuit of business.

According to Africa’s Aviation Industry: Challenges and Opportunities report by African Development Bank, demand for air transport has increased over the years and the trend is expected to continue in the coming years due to robust economic growth, demographic boom, increasing urbanisation and emergence of middle class.

“Years ago, the aviation industry largely depended on tourists but recenty we have experienced a demand created by increase in the number of business travellers coming into the country.”

KCAA aviation statistics indicate that in 2014 there were a total of 8.5 million domestic and international passengers compared to eight million in 2011.

The number is set to increase following the rehabilitation of airstrips around the country and the expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The Greenfield Terminal, which is currently under construction, will increase JKIA’s capacity to 20 million passengers per year. The aviation statistics also indicate that the number of registered aircraft also grew from 1,088 in 2011 to 1,268 in 2014.

“The number of airlines with operations in the country has grown dramatically and we anticipate entrance of more players which will present a demand that will need to be met,” says Mr Mwandikwa.

“A government flying school is also set to align the industry by ensuring that services are delivered efficiently and effectively, a goal that is only achievable if the government is a player.”

Once the school is open, KCAA hopes to attract partnerships with international aviation schools, especially those in countries that experience extreme weather conditions.

“We hope to entice the ‘West’ to come learn in our country where the weather is favourable all year round.”

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