CHUKS OKOH.
The proprietor of Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and management, Engr Isaac Balami says, the institution will serve as a stop gap to the current high cost of training of professionals in the country’s aviation sector
Speaking on a television interview monitored in Lagos, Balami, whose university was recently given license by the National University Commission, disclosed, that over 100 applicants across Africa have shown interest for enrollment into the University.
Balami noted, that students will have five years to learn in the university what he acquired for almost twenty years in the industry
According to the former two time president of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, with his knowledge and experience garnered worldwide and haven operated the 7Star Hangar with so many aircraft including the Presidential aircraft doing their various maintenance, the institution will be next to none
Balami explained, that students of the institution will have access to Hangars weekends and public holidays and each student is expected to 1,500 hours on a live aircraft loggings to know about, engine overhaul, landing gears, airframes, structure repairs, among others
He explained that at the time of graduating, the student would have had up to 7000 hours on a live aircraft
Balami added, that student will be graduating with Pilot License, Nigeria Civil Aviation license and with the European license
He revealed that most of the trainings will supervised by some professionals from British Airways while they already have to train engineers on Boeing and Airbus which will give students opportunity to obtain such certificates
On efforts to ensure that standard was maintained, the university proprietor said, there was no going back with high standards as it took him four years to get the university approved by the government and to get the license from the NUC
Balami thanked the federal government assuring that huge capital flights abroad will be greatly reduced with the taking off of the university.