Island Aviation Services Limited (IASL) hsa revealed 13 parties have expressed interest to operate a flying school in the Maldives.
On June 1, IASL, which runs the national airline, announced the opportunity is open for any local or international company that has the experience and the financial capability to operate a flying school in the Maldives. IASL stated all interested candidates are being evaluated now, noting the 13 parties that have expressed interest currently operate flying schools across the USA, Middle East, and Europe. A local company has also expressed interest to operate a flying school, added IASL.
The parties will be evaluated on their managerial and financial capabilities, and are required to have previously operated flying schools in at least two countries, as well as in the country the company is registered in. The flying school will be established at a Maldivian airport and will be operated independently by a subsidiary company, noted IASL.
The only flying school in the Maldives is operated by the Asian Academy of Aeronautics (AAA) in Gan, Addu City. However, several complaints regarding the poor operation of the flying school have been lodged by the student pilots. A majority of the students raised concerns such as failure by the AAA to conduct and complete the programmes as scheduled, overcharging fees, and challenges in logging their flight time due to the lack of teachers and planes for the 171 students studying at the school.
The complaints led to a parliament inquiry which found that AAA does not have sufficient resources and facilities to conduct its programmes. At a parliamentary committee meeting, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Aishath Nahula stated the only viable solution was to establish a new school.