Eurocopter and CAFUC begins technician training
First helicopter ab-initio technician training programme begins
In an opening ceremony held
on 26 October, senior representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of
China (CAAC), the French and German Consulates, as well as CAFUC and Eurocopter
China were present at the CAFUC campus in Guanghan, Sichuan Province, to mark
the commencement of ab-initio technician training courses for students to
become qualified helicopter technicians and pursue a career in the industry.
“Safety has always been a top priority for Eurocopter, and proper training is
essential to ensuring the utmost safety in helicopter operations,” stated
Eurocopter China
chief executive Bruno Boulnois. “We have joined hands with CAFUC to train
technicians in China,
as CAFUC is a key training organization within CAAC, the highest authority in
flight safety and aviation development in the country. With CAFUC’s proven
expertise and competence in aviation training, this cooperation marks another milestone
in Eurocopter’s long-standing relationship and presence in China
supporting the helicopter market and serving its customers.”
Describing it as a win-win situation for both Eurocopter and CAFUC, CAFUC president
Zheng Xiaoyong said, “Our instructors get to learn from the best in the
industry, and in turn, we are able to train many more students to prepare them
for a career in a sector that is poised to grow rapidly as China begins to open
up its low-altitude airspace in the coming years.”
The course will last for four months, during which each trainee will receive
350 hours of theoretical and 300 hours of practical training in the technical
aspects and functions of a helicopter. Upon completion and passing a
CAAC-approved test, the trainee will receive a basic helicopter maintenance
technician license.
“Proper ab-initio training
is absolutely crucial, as it not only provides the foundation for trainees to
further improve their skills in tandem with on-the-job experience, but also in
the development of the aviation industry,” said Detlef Ehrig, head of
Eurocopter Training Academy based in Kassel, Germany. “In a fast-growing market
like China,
this foundation has to be built early, so that the growth of the industry will
not be hampered by the lack of ab-initio trained technicians and pilots.”
In a sign of commitment to the Chinese helicopter market, Eurocopter China will
continue to invest in training activities in co-operation with local
organisations. “In time to come, China will become one of the world’s
largest aviation markets, and top-level training is key to its future
development,” concluded Boulnois.