Ministry of Higher Education has opened loan applications for students who were unable to complete the pilot training course at the Addu Flying School. Student pilots of the flying school operated by the Asian Academy of Aeronautics (AAA) had been unable to continue their course and receive certificates due to operational problems at the academy.
The higher education ministry stated that the loans will be provided to students who have completed a refresher programme. The ministry noted that 35 of the 65 former students of AAA have completed the programme and are eligible to apply for the loans, the deadline for which is on August 15. It also stated that the loans will cover the remaining portion of their course and the funds for the loans will be allocated in the ministry’s budget for the year.
The former students of AAA are currently enrolled at the Maldivian Aviation Academy (MAA), which commenced practical classes after receiving its operational license from the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority in July. The practical classes began with the first batch of 35 students that completed the refresher programme conducted by the academy, which included former students of AAA.
MAA had earlier revealed the refresher programme is currently ongoing for the second batch, which includes 39 students. MAA stated it aims to complete the required flying hours of the first two batches of students by the end of the year.
MAA, inaugurated on December 28, 2021, is a collaboration between Island Aviation Services Limited (IASL), Maldives National University (MNU), and the Czech Republic-based Flying Academy. The academy is operated at Gan International Airport (GIA) in Addu City.