MACAU aviation authorities are to begin discussing this week the opening of an aviation training centre, following the completion of a US Government-funded feasibility study. The US$700,000 ($5.4 million) Aviation Training Centre Marketing Study, headed by United States-based engineering firm Ralph M Parsons, said such a centre would be feasible. It suggests the school open shortly after the US$7.6 billion Macau International Airport, under construction and expected to be ready for flight testing in July, is fully operational early next year. The more than 200-page report, just received by the Civil Aviation Authority of Macau, says the school should include courses on aircraft maintenance, aviation safety and security, the training of cabin attendants and English instruction. Chairman of the Aviation Authority, Jose Queiroz, said meetings would be held with the Macau Airport Corporation, start-up flag carrier Air Macau as well as one other firm involved in the airport project. Mr Queiroz said although a school could not be opened in time for Air Macau's first commercial flights, it would be needed as the airline expands its fleet and staff numbers. 'We are going by the study and the study says it will be feasible,' he said. 'Air Macau is an obvious user of a training school.' Chairman of Air Macau's executive committee, Leonel Miranda, said he was not aware of the report, but thought it a good idea. 'We are trying very hard to build the aviation industry in Macau,' he said. 'So this would seem a perfect way to go. Not only could we use it, but Air Portugal and maybe some other airlines in the region could too.' Mr Queiroz said it was too early to say who, apart from Air Macau, could use the centre. But Cathay Pacific spokesman Phil Burfurd said it was unlikely the major regional airlines would be interested because they all had extensive in-house training facilities. 'We are very well covered on that,' Mr Burfurd said. 'Dragonair is pretty well covered on training as well, and so is Singapore Airlines and the other majors in the region. 'But the Chinese airlines are probably the best targets. There is still a lot of need for training there.' Analysts agreed the Chinese airlines would be likely users, as the US government grant, approved by the Department of Commerce's Trade and Development Administration, was seen as an indirect way of giving money to China. The administration was prevented from granting funds to China after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. The consultancy, which took place between March and December last year, also includes reports on the feasibility of introducing heavy maintenance facilities, express cargo and a parts warehouse. Mr Queiroz said those reports would be submitted within weeks.
