The Fiji Airways Aviation Academy (FJAA) is saving Fiji Airways over $US10 million ($F22.7m) in training bills annually, as revealed by Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoen in the airline’s 2023 annual report, which was tabled in Parliament last week.

“FJAA, equipped with Airbus A330 and Boeing 737 MAX full-flight simulators, has been a game-changer for the company since its inception three years ago,” Mr. Viljoen said.

“The academy has significantly enhanced our capabilities in pilot certification, type rating, and career progression, while also providing substantial third-party revenue. All pilot competency and promotional training is now performed locally, saving us more than US$10 million in training costs, shortening training timelines, and raising pilot competency standards.”

“This significant cost-saving measure has allowed the airline to reinvest in other critical areas of our operations, further enhancing our overall efficiency and performance.”

Fiji Airways is currently implementing phase two of the academy’s expansion, with $49 million spent on it in 2023. The total expansion cost is estimated at $130 million and includes the acquisition of an Airbus A350 full-flight simulator and an ATR full-flight simulator.

“FJAA is critical to our current and future national pilot progression plans. Since being granted approval to conduct type ratings, Fiji Airways has completed 62 promotional movements for our national pilot group, with additional courses in progress,” Mr. Viljoen added.

FJAA is also a key component of the airline’s gender sensitivity agenda, with its team of trainers now including 15 female pilots. “We are also proud to highlight that our team now includes 15 accomplished female pilots. “This milestone reflects our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within our workforce. By empowering talented women to pursue and excel in aviation careers, we are not only enriching our team but also setting a positive example for the industry,” Mr. Viljoen said.

Before the academy’s establishment, Fiji Airways crew had to travel abroad to Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand for training. Three years on, FJAA has built a strong reputation and is now receiving interest from other international airlines, according to the annual report.

Source: Fiji Airways
Photo Credit: Fiji Airways (shown as meta image)