The Australian Helicopter Industry Future Foundation has become operational with a series of workshops for young engineering aspirants around the country.
Eight heli operators have volunteered to open their workshops for a day, with events already held attracting 5-10 students at each location.
Set-up to combat an increasing shortage of engineers, the future foundation is funded from a $500,000 donation made by John and Julie Cameron and was set up by the Australian Helicopter Industry Association (AHIA).
The future foundation operates separately from AHIA, but works in close co-operation.
"This is about the helicopter industry helping itself to find the future engineers that are, and will be, needed in considerable numbers," said foundation spokesperson Paul Tyrrell.
"The workshops have been a stunning success, and more will held in 2023."
So far, workshops have been held at McDermott Aviation in QLD, Heliflite in NSW, Airwork Helicopters in QLD and Kestrel Aviation in Victoria.
Other operators participating in the first round of workshops are United Aero in NSW, Fleet Helicopters in NSW, Raymond Reynolds in the NT and Helismart in QLD.
AHIA president Ray Cronin announced the future foundation at RotorTech in June, saying the industry was desperate to find new engineers and called on association members to get behind the initiative.