Regional skills keeping Australias regional skies safe

These inspections are part of a three year rotational program in which all of the 500 plus navigational aids installed and maintained by Airservices are inspected. With one-third of Airservices technical maintenance staff expected to retire over the next five years the challenge is to maintain this inspection schedule. As part of a $2.4 million investment by Airservices, new trainees based at Wagga Wagga TAFE will learn skills required to assist the Flight Inspection Service (FIS) to collect airborne data. Trainees will also experience the assessment and analysis of data by maintenance and engineering staff to ensure that each navigation aid is calibrated, accurate and serviceable. The service is scheduled to undertake 23 separate flight inspections in July on equipment at:

NT Ayres Rock, Simpsons Gap, Temple Bar, Alice Springs, Wallaby

NSW Brewarrina, Mt Hope

WA Esperance, Albany, Parkerville, Caversham, Beermullah, Perth, Jurien Bay, Ballidu, Kalgoorlie, Warburton, Giles

SA Moomba

QLD Charleville, Brymaroo, Brisbane, Maroochydore

Airservices spokesman Rob Walker said the skill-based funding represented a significant commitment to regional skills development and ensuring the future of Australias air navigation system. The equipment being inspected and tested includes instrument landing systems (ILS), distance measuring equipment (DME), non-directional beacons (NDB) and VHF omni range (VOR) navigation aids plus surveillance radars.