The Australian has confirmed Austrade is planning its first mission targeting aviation training to China in September as China, which would soon have the world’s biggest aviation market, struggles with a pilot shortage.

“China will need more qualified pilots, air traffic controllers and dispatchers,” said Trade Minister Steven Ciobo, “And that requires a very high standard of training that Australian aviation businesses are well placed to deliver."

Austrade’s Beijing-based trade commissioner for infrastructure, Matthew Brent, said that while aviation training was a competitive area, “I think Australia has a lot of strength in this space that is worth raising the profile of with industry here in China".

Australian Pilot Training Alliance chief executive Glen Buckley said he was keen to see an Austrade process to identify companies that had potential to get CCAR Part 141 approval for pilot schools issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

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