The African Development Bank has provided US$53 million (R1bn) for the development of a cutting-edge aviation training facility in Rwanda.
The facility, the Centre of Excellence for Aviation (CEAS), scheduled to open in 2025, is designed to accommodate 500 students annually. It will offer pilot training, maintenance instruction, air traffic control expertise and drone piloting proficiency, reports airspace-africa.com.
In anticipation of the rapidly increasing demand for skilled aviation professionals in Rwanda and neighbouring countries, the centre will be essential to equip the region with a trained workforce to support the growing aviation industry.
CEAS will be developed in addition to the new aviation school, Akagera Aviation School, which is located in the old Kigali International Airport and built in preparation for the new Kigali International Airport scheduled to open in 2026. CEAS follows the continent’s pivotal commitment to Focus Africa’s future skills initiative, which assisted African aviation stakeholders in recognising the need for over 50 000 skilled aviation professionals in the next 20 years.
The initiative noted that due to a lack of infrastructure, advanced training technology and the unreasonably high cost of training, Africa is experiencing a shortage of aviation professionals. The initiative speculates that the industry will require 15 000 new pilots, 17 000 new technicians and 23 000 new cabin crew members to accommodate the exponentially growing demand for aviation services.
Additionally, the training hub will attract foreign investment from airlines and aviation firms that will propel the nation’s aviation sector. Currently, Rwanda is home to RwandAir, Akagera Aviation and Rwanda Airport Company.
The new aviation training facility will support its strategic ambition to become an aviation hub, as it maintains a stable political environment, a burgeoning economy and an unwavering commitment to nurturing its aviation industry. It also positions the country as an ideal candidate for training aspiring aviation professionals from neighbouring nations.
