Air Seychelles seals Memorandum of Understanding with CINEC to extend training support in aircraft maintenance

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC) to provide internship opportunities in aircraft maintenance to students from the academy.

The agreement was signed at the CINEC Campus in Sri Lanka by the Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, Remco Althuis and the Chairman, Managing Director and President of CINEC, Captain Ajith Peiris in the presence of the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, Charles Johnson and the Vice President of CINEC, Professor Nalaka Jayakody.

The training programmes and internships to be conducted by the Air Seychelles Technical Operations department under this agreement, will enable the young technicians studying in the related field to gain both theory and specific on-the–job training for a period of two years in the Seychelles, upon completion of the aircraft maintenance technician programme with CINEC.

As part of the deal, following the successful completion of the internship programme in the Seychelles the students will then be eligible to obtain a basic license from the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) to work with airlines or aircraft repair organizations.

Remco Althuis, Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles said: “This year in November, will mark one year since Air Seychelles opened its doors to students from CINEC.

“At the moment we have seven students undergoing the aircraft maintenance internship programme in the Seychelles and as we are very satisfied with their performance it is only right that we establish a formal agreement to continue to provide support to this professional establishment.

“In addition, this partnership will also enable Air Seychelles to explore the possibility of developing an exchange programme with CINEC campus, whereby young aviation enthusiast joining the national airline’s technical operations department can also later undertake specific training at the campus.

“Hence today we are delighted to have had the opportunity to meet with the management of CINEC in addition to viewing the attractive facilities at its campus and sign this agreement for future cooperation”.

Also present at the signing of the MoU was Air Seychelles Head of Corporate Affairs, Sheryl Barra,  Human Resource Manager, Joel De Commarmond including the Manager of Technical Standards and Planning, Michael Agathine, as well as key staff members from CINEC.

The first batch of students from CINEC joined the national airline of Seychelles in November 2017. The agreement signed with CINEC will enable the aircraft technicians apprentice to proceed on an internship programme with Air Seychelles for period of two years.