A PARTNERSHIP between the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF) and the Fiji National University (FNU) has resulted in the first “Beyond the Skies” aviation day which drew an influx of students at the FNU’s Namaka campus last Friday.
While officiating as chief guest, Australia Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A) executive director James Ramsay said the purpose of the event was to show tomorrow’s pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, aviation security officers and safety inspectors that a career in aviation was well within reach.
“In a region where the distances between countries are vast, aviation is the essential connector. It supports trade, it supports the tourism industry on which Fiji depends,” he said.
“It’s vital for medical services and emergencies, and it enables people to travel across the region for educational and work opportunities which would otherwise not be available.”
Mr Ramsay said Fiji was a regional leader in aviation particularly with a world-renowned airline which connected Fiji to 15 different countries and 28 different international destinations.
He said Fiji’s strong regulatory capabilities and it being a leading voice in regional policy discussions on aviation safety oversight, climate resilience and air connectivity made it a key partner to Australia in the Australia-Pacific Partnerships for Aviation Program.
CAAF chief executive officer Theresa Levestam said “Beyond the Skies” was about helping students see that the industry was not beyond their reach.
“Today, you will meet pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, the cabin crew, flight procedure designers, aviation security workforce, the flight patrons, aviation lawyers, safety inspectors, and many others who help keep Fiji connected to the world.
“They all have different roles, but they all share one thing in common, they all started from where you are today and I know that personally.”
FNU vice-chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo Baba commended the partnership with CAAF which would provide more career opportunities for students.
