NORWICH, UK, Tuesday 17 September 2013
Norwich Airport and aviation engineering firm KLM UK Engineering launch the Norwich International Aviation Academy
New state of the art facility will provide a centre of excellence to the aviation industry for education and skills training, delivered in partnership with the region’s education groups and local authorities
Norwich International Airport has teamed up with its largest tenant operator, aircraft engineering firm KLM UK Engineering (“KLMUKE”), to develop the concept of an Aviation Academy to be based at the Airport site. The concept is supported by a core group of founding partners which includes the University of East Anglia, the TEN Group, New Anglia local enterprise partnership, EAGIT training, Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council.
The need for such a facility was originally identified by KLMUKE and the Airport in order to enhance and expand KLMUKE’s existing training operations on the Airport industrial estate. KLMUKE currently employ over 375 members of staff, made up in excess of over 200 skilled engineers at the Airport and have up to 40 apprentices in training at any given time. Their future expansion in Norwich is partly dependent on the availability of skilled workers.
A further catalyst for the concept is the Airport’s ambitious Aeropark project, which received planning permission in July 2013. This development project on the north side of the airfield kicks off with a 160,000 sqft hangar and head office development for Air Livery, the leading aircraft painting firm. Latest figures show the Aeropark could create 1,400 jobs and generate over £50m of benefit in the local economy when fully developed. To realise this benefit, the ability to provide a skilled workforce is crucial, and the Aviation Academy will form a vital part of the strategy.
The needs of the wider industry underpin local demand for skilled aviation workers. The 2013 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook, a respected industry forecast of personnel demand, projects a requirement for 556,000 new maintenance technicians to maintain the new airplanes entering the world fleet over the next 20 years. In Europe that would be 108,200 in addition to the exciting jobs in Maintenance not to be mistakenly mixed-up with the labour demand in the aircraft new build industry.
The concept for the Norwich International Aviation Academy is one of a pioneering centre of excellence for education in aviation skills. The Academy will enhance the region’s reputation and lead the training and development of the next generation of aviation professionals.
The partners hope that the Academy will inspire individuals to become highly skilled in their chosen field and be ready to take on leadership and expert roles in the aviation community throughout the world.
Through creating a ‘real world’ learning environment that includes a full size aeroplane and using innovative teaching techniques, the Academy will raise the standards of learning within the aviation industry, while offering a broad education that will attract both local and international students.
Andrew Bell, CEO of Norwich International Airport, said, “One of the Airport’s core strategic objectives is to become a thriving centre of excellence in the aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul business. This objective is core to the Airport’s long term sustainability for the benefit of the region, at a time when many regional airports across Europe are struggling and some are closing their doors for good. To achieve this objective the Airport must be able to offer the complete package to attract new business. That means flexible flight operations, which are available now. It means bespoke, affordable facilities, which the new Aeropark development can provide. Lastly, and crucially, it means the settled, skilled workforce that any business looking to relocate or grow will require. The Aviation Academy will demonstrate to new business that these skills can be delivered efficiently, cost effectively and locally. At the same time the Academy will help businesses like KLM UK Engineering who are already at the Airport to realise their potential”.
Paul Chun, MD of KLM UK Engineering, comments, “To flourish our business we are highly relaying on the support of the local community. Therefore we are keen to interest people in the community for a career in general engineering and also specifically in aviation. We would particularly like to encourage young girls and boys to consider our apprenticeships or aviation graduate programs as a start for an inspiring career. However, to meet the learning requirements of a new generation means a fundamental change in how education and training is approached in aviation. An inspiring learning environment and innovative solutions focused on new digital technology will be needed. The integral approach with education experts, local government and industry is an ideal start for success. I am very excited about the Norwich International Aviation Academy, it will position Norwich firmly on the Aviation Industry map. To interest future generations for jobs in Aviation is crucial for a sustainable growth for our industry”.
Chloe Smith MP adds, “This is a good move and very important for Norwich. As founder of Norwich For Jobs, the local campaign to get young people into work, which is backed by KLM UK Engineering and fifty other firms so far, I strongly support the proposals for an Aeropark which could create thousands of jobs in the local economy. To do that, we need more skilled engineers and the Aviation Academy will show we can do this in Norwich. I applaud the partners for working together to achieve this. I’d urge people interested in a great career to sign up.”
Alongside the Airport and KLMUKE, a core group of founding partners has been established who will develop the Aviation Academy concept. This group includes:
• EAGIT training, who are currently based at the Airport industrial estate and who work with KLMUKE to fulfil their current apprenticeship training needs • The TEN Group – The Transforming Education in Norfolk (TEN) Group, which incorporates City College Norwich, a number of local academies and the new engineering-focussed University Technical College Norfolk (opening September 2014) • The University of East Anglia (UEA), currently top ranked for student experience in the UK and offering degree courses in energy engineering • New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) • Norwich City Council • Norfolk County Council
Partners Quotes Chris Starkie, managing director of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said “We see clear growth potential for the aviation cluster around Norwich International Airport and it is vital local people are given the chance to gain the skills they need to work in this growing industry. That is why the aviation academy is so important to raise the profile of the sector locally and nationally, and lead the training and development of the workforce. This is a really good example of industry and academia working in partnership and a project we are delighted to support”. Norwich City Council – Councillor Brenda Arthur, leader of Norwich City Council, said: “The launch of this project is a positive step forward in creating high quality apprenticeship and training opportunities in the area. We look forward to working with partners in realising the benefits the Aviation Academy will bring, both to the job market and the wider economy.” Norfolk County Council – George Nobbs, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Leader of Norfolk County Council, said: “The Aviation Academy is really exciting news and is the sort of thing we’re working towards at Norfolk County Council. I salute the Airport and KLM UK Engineering. This is fantastic news for Norfolk. In the fullness of time it will provide important skills for young people and will become the European centre for aviation engineering. When we talk about improving skills, the aviation academy is a perfect example of what we mean. I believe that the aviation academy will grow and grow to provide lasting benefits to young people and prosperity to the county and region as a whole. Norfolk County Council is 100% behind it!”
Prof Phil Gilmartin, dean of UEA’s Faculty of Science, said: The University of East Anglia is proud to be one of the founding partners of the Norwich International Aviation Academy; this is a very exciting and important initiative. In this new Academy the UEA will work with KLM UK Engineering, Norwich International Airport, and other partners, to deliver top class aviation engineering training in Norwich which we expect to boost local employment and the local economy. A particular goal for UEA will be to ensure that students working at the new Academy receive education and training of the highest possible standards and quality. This will build on the UEA’s recent programme of investment in new staff and facilities for its new engineering Undergraduate and Post-graduate degree programmes, the latter of which is now in its’ second year. This new partnership provides a similar opportunity for the University to contribute to regional business and commercial needs for of a highly skilled workforce including graduate engineers in the aviation industry. The initiative will benefit from academic expertise within our existing engineering programs as well as within our Schools of Mathematics and Computing Science at the UEA.
David Shorten Chief Executive at EAGIT, said “EAGIT is delighted to be working with KLM UK Engineering and the other partners to develop this important project. Engineering skills are key to our economy and the Aviation Academy will ensure that Norfolk is central to the development of skills provision in this critical area.”
Dick Palmer, Group Chief Executive Officer, Transforming Education in Norfolk (TEN) Group, commented: “The Aviation Academy will provide an invaluable addition to Norfolk’s expanding training capacity in a cluster of key growth sectors – aerospace, advanced engineering and energy – where there will be a long-term demand for local people with the skills needed by these industries. TEN Group is delighted to be part of this exciting development and to be able to offer our experience and expertise in support of the new Academy.”
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Notes to editors
About Norwich International Airport
Norwich International Airport was privatised in 2004. Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council sold a majority stake in the business to Omniport, a UK based regional airport operator.
The Airport currently handles around 440,000 passengers per annum and offers direct scheduled flights to Amsterdam, Manchester, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Exeter, Newquay, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, with connections through Manchester enabling passengers to reach Belfast, Glasgow, the Isle of Man and Inverness. Passengers can reach over 600 destinations worldwide through award winning hub Airport Amsterdam Schiphol with KLM. Holiday flights operate to the Canary and Balearic Islands, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy and Madeira.
The Airport is a base for 4 offshore helicopter operators (Bristow, Bond, NHV and Dancopter). It is also home to KLM UK Engineering, a major MRO business, as well as Air Livery.
The Airport teamed up with Cambridge-based developer Wrenbridge in 2012 to develop Norwich Aeropark, a 100 acre aviation related development project on the north side of the airfield. The first development was confirmed in 2012 for a new production facility and headquarters for aircraft painting firm Air Livery. Planning permission for this facility, and the development of the wider site, was obtained in July 2013.
About KLM UK Engineering
KLM UK Engineering Limited is a leading regional – and narrow bodied aircraft Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) centre providing EASA Part 145 services. KLMUKE is wholly owned subsidiary of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and part of the Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance MRO network and their Subsidiaries and Joint Ventures. KLM UK Engineering’s main base is at Norwich International Airport with services including base maintenance, line maintenance, component sales, technical training and decommissioning on Boeing 737, Fokker 50/70/100, BAe 146/Avro RJ and Airbus A320 Family, with a facility comprising of 3 hangars, 8 bays and an extensive on- site component workshop. KLM UK Engineering has been based in Norwich for 40 years and employs approx 375 people and prides itself on having an experienced and skilled work force, delivering a superior service and high quality product.
Other background Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook 2013 As new-generation airplanes come to dominate the world fleet, airplane reliability will improve and maintenance check intervals will lengthen. Although this trend will moderate demand growth, global demand for technicians remains significant. Emerging markets that currently recruit maintenance technicians from outside the region will have to develop a strong foundation for developing and training qualified technical personnel from within the local workforce. The need for maintenance personnel is greatest in the Asia Pacific region, which will require 215,300 new technical personnel. China’s requirement will be the region’s greatest, with a need for 93,900 technicians. Airlines in Europe will require 108,200, North America 97,900, the Middle East 53,100, Latin America 47,600, the Commonwealth of Independent States 18,000 and Africa 15,900 technicians.
https://www.boeing.com/boeing/commercial/cmo/pilot_technician_outlook.page
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