Australia’s first Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) maintenance training to be delivered in partnership with Northland Community Technical College
Aviation Australia has partnered with one of the premier aerospace colleges in the United States of America, Northland
Community & Technical College (NCTC), to deliver the first Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) maintenance training program in
Australia.
The courses are designed to educate and up-skill qualified aircraft maintenance engineers into UAS maintenance technicians.
The course will educate students with a broad understanding of commonly used UAS platforms at a functional level, creating
uniquely skilled individuals for jobs of the future.
The training course will be compliant with key international and Australian regulatory requirements, enabling graduates to leave
with multiple domestic and international outcomes.
“There has been significant growth in the usage and application of unmanned aerial systems in Australia. There is a clear need
for skilled and well-trained maintenance engineers to support this growing industry,” said Bill Horrocks, Aviation Australia Chief
Executive Officer.
“Aviation Australia is thrilled to be developing this capability with Northland Community & Technical College, who are a leading
aerospace training provider in the USA.”
The course is a key enabler for Australian industry to up-skill maintenance staff, supporting the multiple Beyond Visual Line of
Sight (BVLOS) commercial and military UAS platforms that are evolving in Australia.
Northrop Grumman has already identified the need to up-skill Australian aircraft maintenance engineers with UAS training to
support cutting edge unmanned capabilities.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is expected to be the first international partner to field the MQ-4C Triton, a U.S. Navy
maritime surveillance UAS built by Northrop Grumman, and this will require in-country sustainment.
Northrop Grumman made the initial connection between the two world-class training organisations, previously providing NCTC
with 14 Bat UAS aircraft and associated equipment for use at their USA based campus in Minnesota.
A range of NCTC-owned UAS training assets will be shipped to Aviation Australia’s Brisbane campus in late 2018 for use in the
practical portion of the first Australian based UAS course.
