Story ID: 
Airbus Helicopters Opens UK Training Academy
By: Charles Alcock
Caption: Oxford center trains pilots, maintenance technicians, and managers
Word Count: 228
Airbus Helicopters has opened a training academy at the UK’s Oxford Airport (EGTK) that can instruct more than 400 rotorcraft pilots, maintenance technicians, and managers per year, the company announced on Friday. According to Airbus, the investment in the 129,000-sq-ft site is necessary to meet the helicopter industry’s shortfall of skilled staff. It will offer flight training, maintenance, repair and overhaul instruction, and executive leadership programs.
The academy’s training programs meet the requirements of the UK government’s Skills Agenda, including Level 3, 4, 5 and 6 apprenticeships funded jointly by employers and the state. It will support training of personnel with the Royal Air Force, the UK Military Flying Training System, the National Police Air Service, and around two-thirds of the country’s air ambulance operators. Operating to UK CAA and EASA standards, the academy lays claim to being the country’s only training center to offer a Part 147-approved B2 technicians course for Airbus helicopters.
“We are seeing a shortage of technical rotary wing specialists in the UK, further impacted by the added workload to industry and the [post-Brexit] lack of mutual recognition between CAA and EASA. The launch of this training academy is part of a long-term vision to ensure critical services to support the UK’s rotary wing fleet,” said Richard Atack, managing director of Airbus Helicopters in the UK.