PLANS TO RECRUIT HELITECH TO NEW INDUSTRY ‘ECOSYSTEM’
Committed to a future of sustainable air travel, ENGAP UK is looking at the helicopter and drone industry to Engage the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (ENGAP).
With a firm focus on rebuilding after the pandemic, ENGAP UK is working with other industry bodies to address a predicted shortfall in skilled professionals and to bring their ecosystem vision to life.
It works by attracting and engaging young people, educating them to industry standard and so delivering fully qualified and trained professionals who will then go on be champions for the next generation of pilots, engineers and ground staff.
ENGAP UK works under the Project ENGAP umbrella, an international organisation inspired by the book Engaging the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals. It’s a platform to raise awareness and engage stakeholders on the impending shortages of personnel within the global aviation and education community.
Simon Witts, is one of the creators of Project ENGAP and Chairman of ENGAP UK. He is also CEO of specialist aviation consultancy Aviation 360, and founder of the UK’s first International Air and Space Institute (IASTI).
The IASTIs will transform the way pilots and future astronauts, engineers and ground staff are trained and the first one, IASTI Newark, opens to students this September. Others will open around the UK later this year.
The ENGAP initiatives are for the whole air and space sector but they would particularly like to attract people to the helicopter and drone industry.
Said Simon: “In a year that has seen unprecedented pressure on aviation we are navigating a route to recovery focussing on three main pillars, people, environment and technology. We effectively have our own ecosystem with each cycle of trained professionals inspiring the next, it’s a continuous and seamless process.
“Through Project ENGAP and ENGAP UK we will set down the foundations, attracting and engaging the right people. Aviation 360 will then work with accredited partners to deliver the industry- standard training and educational pathways that will enable the IASTIs to train the students.”
They aim to produce the next generation of skills-matched professionals, providing a shop window for airlines to acquire fully-qualified trained pilots, who could go on to train as future astronauts, engineers and ground staff. It also offers the potential for future military co-operation.
More information:
IASTI | Engaging the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals
