30 June 2026
WorldSkills South Africa launches new Aircraft Maintenance Academy
A historic public-private partnership has led to the launch of a training centre in Durban, ready to upskill South Africa’s aviation talent of the future.
On 5 June, WorldSkills South Africa unveiled its new Aircraft Maintenance Academy in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The training centre is the result of an exciting partnership with Starlite Aviation and Elangeni Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College. It marks a significant milestone in strengthening the country’s aviation skills and advancing its national TVET strategy.
At the launch event, WorldSkills South Africa was joined by representatives from the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Transport Education Training Authority, Starlite Aviation, other TVET colleges, and industry partners. The strong representation across the skills community showed the country’s collective commitment to building a future-ready skills pipeline.
The Aircraft Maintenance Academy was officially opened by Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube. Speaking at the launch, she highlighted the significance of technical and occupational careers saying, “Nations are built by skilled people. Our country cannot industrialize without artisans. This is why the Department of Higher Education and Training continues to prioritize skills development and industry partnerships.”
The programme commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a walkabout of the Academy’s facilities, showcasing the specialized training environment for aircraft maintenance and aviation engineering. Accredited in Aircraft Maintenance, the centre is the first of its kind to offer specialized aviation training programmes, thanks to a groundbreaking partnership between industry and education.
Deputy Minister Dube-Ncube reflected, “Elangeni TVET College possesses the institutional capacity, while Starlite Aviation brings technical expertise, aviation resources, and occupational alignment. The establishment of this Academy is also closely aligned with our National Development Plan 2030 target to produce 30,000 artisans annually.”
Through collaboration between industry partners, educators, and government, the WorldSkills South Africa Aircraft Maintenance Academy will equip students with hands-on experience using professional-grade aircraft components and tooling systems, supported by specialist instruction grounded in industry practice.
The long-term impact of the Academy will be far-reaching. It will strengthen the role of TVET colleges in supporting high-demand occupations, and it will contribute to the growth of South Africa’s aviation industry by ensuring a steady supply of qualified aircraft maintenance technicians, supporting job creation, economic growth, and the development of a globally competitive workforce.
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