In a bid to elevate aviation standards and nurture global talent, CAA International (CAAi) is sponsoring four aspiring EASA-licensed aircraft engineers from Africa. This initiative offers critical training and mentorship, helping the students on their journey to achieve an EASA Engineer Licence. The sponsorship is funded through CAAi’s social enterprise reinvestment programme and delivered in collaboration with the International Federation of Airworthiness (IFA).
Over the next four months, the students will participate in a series of regionally held training courses organised by Nairobi-based training provider, Aero Technics Limited. Additionally, the students will receive ongoing mentorship from an experienced CAAi airworthiness mentor, who will provide regular check-ins and further support throughout their training.
In 2023, the IFA approached CAAi for support with its programme aimed at encouraging more African states to align their engineering training with the EASA regulatory framework—a goal that closely aligns with CAAi’s social impact objectives. Once funding was secured, the IFA promoted the opportunity within the regional aviation community, specifically targeting locally licensed engineers who aspire to obtain an EASA licence. After a thorough selection process, four students were chosen based on their exceptional potential and strong likelihood of success.
The collaboration between CAAi and the IFA reflects a shared commitment to developing the next generation of aviation professionals and improving global airworthiness standards. It also aligns with ICAO’s No Country Left Behind programme, which aims to help developing nations strengthen their regulatory capabilities. A key focus of this effort is addressing the global shortage of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, particularly in regions where high training costs present a significant barrier.
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Clair Borrelli, Head of International Operations at CAAi, said:
“This sponsorship represents a meaningful step in addressing the skills gap in aviation maintenance engineering and supporting aspiring professionals in underserved regions. As a registered social enterprise, we are proud to support the IFA’s mission and wish all four students every success as they begin their journey toward obtaining an EASA licence.”
The IFA, known for its focus on airworthiness and the development of students, recognises the transformative impact such programmes can have in fostering expertise and ensuring aviation safety worldwide. By enabling access to specialised training, the partnership aims to inspire more individuals to pursue careers in this critical field, ultimately strengthening the global aviation ecosystem.
Dr. Hazel Courteney, President at the IFA, added:
“IFA believes it is so important to promote airworthiness as a career in all areas of the world, particularly in regions where aviation is expanding and the demand for engineers increasingly outstrips supply. Supporting these students to further their careers is a practical contribution to that goal, and we hope that they, in turn, will inspire others around them to follow airworthiness careers. We would like to thank CAAi for partnering with us in this project.”
The sponsorship commenced in January 2025 and is expected to be completed in early May 2025.
For more information about CAAi’s social enterprise programmes, visit: https://caainternational.com/about-us/social-enterprise/
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