RMIT University in Victoria has established a new aviation academy, expanding the training fleet by 24 new aeroplanes as it prepares to accommodate growing global demand for both pilots and aerospace engineers.
Launched last Friday, RMIT Aviation Academy is believed to have the largest and most modern fleet of aircraft used in tertiary training in Australia.
The university has been training pilots at both Point Cook and Bendigo, and the new academy will bring together vocational education, research, aviation management, flight instructor training, air crash investigation, human factors and more under one banner.
The new aircraft added to the existing fleet include Cessna C172 and C182, Piper Seminole and Decathlon aircraft.
RMIT has appointed experienced aviation administrator and consultant Lea Vesic as Director of the new academy. Vesic believes that the new fleet will ensure students train and graduate with cutting-edge technology.
“This fleet of aircraft will give our students access to modern and airline-like flight deck technology and rocket-like aerobatic aircraft performance – giving them a scope of experience to be ready to fill a workforce shortage,” she said.
The aircraft will support the expansion of RMIT’s aviation offerings with new training contracts signed with Vietnam Airlines and VietJet. Both airlines will send candidates to be trained at RMIT Aviation Academy’s Bendigo base from 2023.
“We know there are endless opportunities in the international aviation market," Vesic said. "In launching the Academy, we have a mission that, together with our partners, we will inspire, educate and cultivate a proficient global workforce to meet these challenges and find opportunities."
RMIT has existing partnerships supplying specialised pilot theory courses to RAAF, RAN and Army aviation, as well as programs, research and student opportunities with Boeing, CASA, Qantas, Jetstar and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.