To tackle a looming shortage of aircraft maintenance technicians, the Wallonia Aerotraining Network (WAN) confirmed on 12 June it has purchased a full-size McDonnell Douglas MD-83. The 155-seat jet will be parked at Gosselies, near Charleroi Airport, and converted into a hands-on training platform for mechanics, cabin crew and ground handlers.
![Wallonia Buys Retired MD-83 to Upskill Belgium’s Aviation Workforce]()
For international trainees and employers navigating Belgian visa requirements, VisaHQ can streamline the process of securing the necessary work permits and short-stay visas. Its online tools and expert support help foreign technicians arrive on schedule for WAN courses, reducing paperwork headaches for both candidates and HR teams. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
Wallonia’s aerospace cluster – home to Sonaca, Safran Aero Boosters and SABCA – employs 7 400 people and generates €2 billion in annual turnover, but currently lists more than 470 open vacancies. WAN says the MD-83 will allow trainees to practice engine borescope inspections, composite repairs and eventual dismantling for recycling, skills increasingly demanded by airlines seeking sustainable end-of-life solutions. The regional government funded 60 % of the undisclosed purchase price, with the remainder covered by EU Just Transition grants. Training slots will prioritise job-seekers and reskilling workers affected by the energy transition. Employers can reserve bespoke modules, shortening onboarding time for newly-hired technicians. For mobility managers, the investment promises a deeper local talent pool, potentially easing the work-permit burden for highly skilled foreign engineers, as Belgian firms may source talent domestically.
For international trainees and employers navigating Belgian visa requirements, VisaHQ can streamline the process of securing the necessary work permits and short-stay visas. Its online tools and expert support help foreign technicians arrive on schedule for WAN courses, reducing paperwork headaches for both candidates and HR teams. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
Wallonia’s aerospace cluster – home to Sonaca, Safran Aero Boosters and SABCA – employs 7 400 people and generates €2 billion in annual turnover, but currently lists more than 470 open vacancies. WAN says the MD-83 will allow trainees to practice engine borescope inspections, composite repairs and eventual dismantling for recycling, skills increasingly demanded by airlines seeking sustainable end-of-life solutions. The regional government funded 60 % of the undisclosed purchase price, with the remainder covered by EU Just Transition grants. Training slots will prioritise job-seekers and reskilling workers affected by the energy transition. Employers can reserve bespoke modules, shortening onboarding time for newly-hired technicians. For mobility managers, the investment promises a deeper local talent pool, potentially easing the work-permit burden for highly skilled foreign engineers, as Belgian firms may source talent domestically.
