The
National Institute of Transport (NIT) has introduced a new course of
pilot training to overcome the shortage of aircraft professionals in the
country.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam during the handover of a certificate that will allow the Institute to offer training in handling dangerous goods in aviation, NIT Rector, Dr Zacharia Mganilwa said the decision follows the acute shortage of pilots in the country.
He said the country now has only 183 pilots while the demand is 456 pilots, a situation which has forced the nation to hire 273 expatriates to reduce the gap.
“Currently the course is offered outside the country at a very high tuition fee for parents and even the airlines to afford for their staff. It costs about 100m/- to train one Engineer or a pilot. So we can ask ourselves how many Tanzanians can afford that?” he questioned.
He added that the course curriculum will be complete in August this year, “Currently efforts to find teaching and learning materials including training flights are progressing well with a prospect of starting the training early next year… the government has allowed the institution to use Dodoma and Tanga airports for the trainings.”
Dr Mganilwa further said NIT in collaboration with Air Tanzania Company Ltd (ATCL) have completed the curriculum for air craft maintenance training and other aircraft trainings and are currently in the process of undergoing accreditation from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA).
For his part, minister for Transport Dr Harrison Mwakyembe who handed over the training certificate to the Institution promised to help the Institution especially in financing due to the importance of the aircraft sector and transport in general in developing the economy of the country.
“I also believe that the introduction of the courses will help address the challenges in the transport sector, including transportation of dangerous drugs that are toxic to humans, animals, plants and marine biodiversity,” he said.
Commenting on the introduction of the aviation course in handling dangerous cargo, TCAA representative Abduli Mkwizu said the training will help TCCA reduce costs of exporting its officers to study in other countries such as in Kenya, Singapore and Senegal which cost between USD 4,000 and USD 5,000.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam during the handover of a certificate that will allow the Institute to offer training in handling dangerous goods in aviation, NIT Rector, Dr Zacharia Mganilwa said the decision follows the acute shortage of pilots in the country.
NIT Rector, Dr Zacharia Mganilwa
He said the country now has only 183 pilots while the demand is 456 pilots, a situation which has forced the nation to hire 273 expatriates to reduce the gap.
“Currently the course is offered outside the country at a very high tuition fee for parents and even the airlines to afford for their staff. It costs about 100m/- to train one Engineer or a pilot. So we can ask ourselves how many Tanzanians can afford that?” he questioned.
He added that the course curriculum will be complete in August this year, “Currently efforts to find teaching and learning materials including training flights are progressing well with a prospect of starting the training early next year… the government has allowed the institution to use Dodoma and Tanga airports for the trainings.”
Dr Mganilwa further said NIT in collaboration with Air Tanzania Company Ltd (ATCL) have completed the curriculum for air craft maintenance training and other aircraft trainings and are currently in the process of undergoing accreditation from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA).
For his part, minister for Transport Dr Harrison Mwakyembe who handed over the training certificate to the Institution promised to help the Institution especially in financing due to the importance of the aircraft sector and transport in general in developing the economy of the country.
“I also believe that the introduction of the courses will help address the challenges in the transport sector, including transportation of dangerous drugs that are toxic to humans, animals, plants and marine biodiversity,” he said.
Commenting on the introduction of the aviation course in handling dangerous cargo, TCAA representative Abduli Mkwizu said the training will help TCCA reduce costs of exporting its officers to study in other countries such as in Kenya, Singapore and Senegal which cost between USD 4,000 and USD 5,000.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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