LAST year, five Solomon Islands future aviators were awarded scholarships to undertake training at the joint Qatar Aeronautical Academy (QAA) – the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Qatar.
But their hopes were dashed when a week prior to their departure in February they were told the training opportunity was off, largely because Solomon Airlines was slow in submitting the applications in time for consideration.
Only one student managed to get in, prompting questions as to how he got in.
The unnamed student will undertake a three-year pilot training programme in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
Solomon Airlines Chief Executive Officer Sean Te’o dismissed suspicion that the lucky student could be related to an employee of the national carrier.
He added that the opportunity is not lost. “It is still there, except that we have to wait until the next cycle of the scholarships.”
The Qatar Aeronautical Academy (QAA) is a leading aviation training provider in the Gulf region. ICAO is a United Nations agency that helps countries cooperate and share their skies.
The QAA offers a wide range of training programs, including the introduction to Aeronautical Meteorological Observations; Operational Flight Planning. Both courses are offered in the capital, Doha.
QAA also offer full-time courses for pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, air traffic controllers, and so on. As well, the Qatar-ICAO Developing Countries Scholarship Programme is jointly administered by the QCAA, QAA, and ICAO
The programmes aim to develop the aviation sector and enhance training programmes to contribute to higher safety and efficiency standards.
By Alfred Sasako
