Asia-Pacific will need over 230k new pilots, 250k aircraft maintenance technicians by 2042: ICAO chief
ICAO secretary-general Juan Carlos Salazar (left) and Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling at the inaugural ICAO Asia-Pacific regional training symposium on July 16.
SINGAPORE – The Asia-Pacific region will require more than 230,000 new pilots and over 250,000 aircraft maintenance technicians by 2042, in order to fuel the growth of the aviation industry in this part of the world, secretary-general of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Juan Carlos Salazar said on July 16.
The Asia-Pacific region requires a standardised training ecosystem that is tech-driven and can be scaled up that is able to rapidly produce pilots, technicians and other types of aviation professions, said Mr Salazar.
He pointed out that the year 2042 roughly marks the time today's toddlers enter university.
Speaking to over 400 industry partners and training experts at the inaugural ICAO Asia-Pacific regional training symposium on July 16, Mr Salazar underscored the importance of jumpstarting training to produce the required talent in the reigon.
At the same time, he outlined the 'severe shortage' of training facilities in the region, including pilot training schools, maintenance training centres and air traffic control academies.
'We need to build regional training hubs, particularly in Southeast Asia and South Asia, to reduce the dependence on schools outside the region,' added Mr Salazar.
His comments come after Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said on July 14 that Singapore intends to roll out
new training programmes to train more aviation officials from around the world.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore July BTO launch to have over 4,600 balance flats, 2 BTO projects with under than 3-year wait
Singapore Acute psychiatry services to be expanded across all healthcare clusters: MOH
Singapore 'Kpods broke our marriage, shattered our children': Woman on husband's vape addiction
Business US tariffs may last well after Trump; crucial for countries to deepen trade ties: SM Lee
Multimedia Telling the Singapore story for 180 years
Asia Indonesia police detain 12 suspects over baby trafficking ring linked to Singapore
Life Walking for exercise? Here are tips on how to do it properly
Singapore 'Nobody deserves to be alone': Why Mummy and Acha have fostered over 20 children in the past 22 years
At the training symposium, Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling also announced the launch of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)'s new training programme the Asia Pacific Training Awards.
There will be 120 of these awards set aside for government officials from civil aviation authorities of Asia-Pacific states to train at the Singapore Aviation Academy. The academy, CAAS's training arm, is currently
undergoing a $120 million refresh that is slated to be completed by 2026.
Ms Sun noted that to date, more than 9,500 fellowships and scholarships have been awarded to industry professionals worldwide through courses conducted by the academy.
She added that Singapore and ICAO had launched the first-ever Asia-Pacific Youth for Aviation Programme on July 14, which brought 36 youth aged 19 to 28 from 19 Asia-Pacific states together to visit aviation sites and learn about emerging industry developments.
CAAS noted that these youth will also take part in a youth dialogue session with Mr Salazar and director-general of CAAS Han Kok Juan.
'The programme offers a unique platform for young enthusiasts to build connections and experience the interconnected nature of the aviation ecosystem,' said Ms Sun.
Mr Dylan Sim, one of the two youth participants from Singapore, told The Straits Times that he was looking forward to familiarising himself with the aviation industry, in addition to receiving feedback from Mr Salazar and Mr Han on his group's presentation on workforce developments in the Asia-Pacific.
'Interacting with the other youth participants from other countries opens up all our minds to the world of aviation,' said the 23-year-old third-year university student who specialises in aerospace engineering as part of his mechanical engineering course.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
16 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Trump order excludes aircraft, OJ, energy from Brazil tariffs
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox WASHINGTON - The U.S. excluded several of Brazil's major exports from the 50% tariff President Donald Trump signed into an executive order on Wednesday, including orange juice, some aircraft, wood pulp and energy products, lifting shares of planemaker Embraer and pulpmaker Suzano. In a fact sheet published on Wednesday, the U.S. government tied the tariffs to Brazil's prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is standing trial under charges of plotting a coup to overturn his 2022 electoral loss. Still, the executive order excluded dozens of key Brazilian exports to the United States. Among the top concerns in the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were aircraft produced by Embraer, which exports 45% of its commercial aircraft and 70% of its executive jets to the U.S. Analysts had also warned of a serious potential impact on Suzano, one the world's largest wood pulp producers. Embraer shares rose 11% in Sao Paulo and Suzano gained over 1% in afternoon trading. The executive order came as the U.S. announced sanctions on a Brazilian Supreme Court justice overseeing Bolsonaro's trial, accusing the judge of authorizing arbitrary pre-trial detentions and suppressing freedom of expression. REUTERS
Straits Times
16 minutes ago
- Straits Times
US ends tariff exemption for all low-value packages
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A cargo ship full of shipping containers is seen at the port of Oakland, as trade tensions escalate over U.S. tariffs, in Oakland, California, U.S., March 6, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo The United States is suspending a "de minimis" exemption that allowed low-value commercial shipments to be shipped to the United States without facing tariffs, the White House said on Wednesday. Under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, packages valued at or under $800 sent to the U.S. outside of the international postal network will now face "all applicable duties" starting August 29, the White House said. Trump earlier targeted packages from China and Hong Kong, and the White House said the recently signed tax and spending bill repealed the legal basis for the de minimis exemption worldwide starting on July 1, 2027. "Trump is acting more quickly to suspend the de minimis exemption than the OBBBA requires, to deal with national emergencies and save American lives and businesses now," the White House said in a fact sheet, referring to the bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Goods shipped through the postal system will face one of two tariffs: either an "ad valorem duty" equal to the effective tariff rate of the package's country of origin or, for six months, a specific tariff of $80 to $200 depending on the country of origin's tariff rate. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
US hits Iranian shipping network with major new sanctions
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox WASHINGTON - The U.S. Treasury Department announced fresh sanctions on Wednesday on over 115 Iran-linked individuals, entities and vessels, in a sign the Trump administration is doubling down on its "maximum pressure" campaign after bombing Tehran's key nuclear sites in June. The sanctions broadly target the shipping interests of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, who is himself an adviser to Supreme Leader Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The U.S. Treasury described the move as the most significant Iran-related sanctions action since 2018, during President Donald Trump's first administration. According to Treasury, Shamkhani controls a vast network of container ships and tankers through a complex web of intermediaries that sell Iranian and Russian oil and other goods throughout the world. Treasury accused Shamkhani of using personal connections and corruption in Tehran to generate tens of billions of dollars in profits, much of which is used to prop up the Iranian regime. Overall, the new sanctions target 15 shipping firms, 52 vessels, 12 individuals and 53 entities involved in sanctions evasion in 17 countries, ranging from Panama to Italy to Hong Kong. A U.S. official said the new move should not disrupt global oil markets as it was tailored to hit specific bad actors. The European Union sanctioned Shamkhani earlier in July, citing his role in the Russian oil trade. A U.S. official said that Wednesday's action would impact both Russia and Iran, but the action was focused on Iran. "From our perspective, given where this individual fits, given his connection to the Supreme Leader and his father's previous sanctions activities, given the Iran-related authorities, it's critically important to emphasize that this is an Iran action that is meaningful and very impactful," the official said. Ali Shamkhani, Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani's father, was sanctioned by the United States in 2020. REUTERS
