Expert in Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) theory, Nathan Higgins from Australia conducts courses at Advanced Aviation Training (AAT).
The airline transport pilot licence is the highest licence level a pilot can achieve and is the licence type required by pilots flying jets for an airline.
Nathan Higgins is the foremost lecturer in ATPL theory in Australia and was invited to teach his course in association with Advanced Aviation Training at Nadi Airport.
After two successful courses during 2015 he will now be conducting another ATPL Flight Planning Course from 22nd February to 4th March with other courses planned throughout the year.
Student pilots from the Pacific Islands including Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea are able to attend these exclusive course and prepare for the toughest theory exam in aviation.
To qualify for the course the pilots need commercial pilot licence (CPL) theory examination passes.
Mr Higgins said it was a great opportunity for Pacific nation pilots to complete this level of training in Fiji at Advance Aviation Training (Fiji) Ltd (AAT) without the expense and inconvenience of having to travel to Australia. “I think it is much more economical for students if AAT brings me to Fiji to run the course rather than have the whole class fly to Australia”.
Mr Higgins also commented on the positive outlook for pilot training in the Pacific. “AAT is well positioned to provide for the high demand for pilots in the region over the next few years. The airlines of the South Pacific are expected to continue to need new pilots in the coming years. Flying training is an essential industry to support this need and enable the airlines to meet their growth targets”.
Advance Aviation Training (Fiji) Ltd is proud of their association with Mr Higgins who operates the most respected ATPL school in Australia — Advanced Flight Theory (AFT) in Maroochydore, “AAT and AFT share a common goal and that is to provide world standard aviation training here in Fiji” states Capt. Deborah Hinton, director of Training for AAT Fiji.
Feedback from pilots on the courses has been very positive and further courses of this type will be presented by Mr Higgins at AAT in the future. Class numbers are limited so pilots needing this qualification should register interest with Advanced Aviation Training (Fiji) Ltd at Nadi Airport to secure a place on upcoming courses.
