A LOCAL aviation academy has been certified as an international training institution.
Airports Fiji Limited Aviation Academy's certification by the country's aviation regulator Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF) is a historic moment for AFL and an affirmation that its role as an educator has been recognised.
International Commercial Aviation Organization (ICAO) has also endorsed all of the academy's air traffic management courses. This is an important step in ensuring that many countries in the world will now recognise academy graduate licences.
In announcing the certification, AFL chief executive Tony Gollin said immediate beneficiaries, in addition to Fiji, would be those countries in the region who wanted to further develop their aviation industry.
"We have already provided air traffic management training for students from the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu and fire services training for Nauru," he said in a statement.
"With the certification, we will now be able to better plan courses and a better fit for our regional neighbours."
Previous to certification, the academy had to clear each course with CAAF before it could be operated, the statement said.
As a fully certified school, the academy will operate on its own, with CAAF providing the oversight.