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’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.
Source: Aviation24.be
