AAD 2026: Airbus and ALT Academy sign MoU to strengthen African maintenance skills

By Garth Calitz

Airbus and Johannesburg-based ALT Academy have signed an MoU at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2026 exhibition at AFB Waterkloof, establishing a framework for cooperation in aircraft maintenance training. The agreement is aimed at addressing the growing demand for appropriately trained aviation maintenance personnel as African airlines expand their fleets and introduce increasingly sophisticated aircraft and systems.

Under the MoU, Airbus and ALT Academy will explore joint training initiatives and learning solutions, combining Airbus' manufacturer expertise and training resources with ALT Academy's practical aviation education capabilities.

The agreement presents an opportunity for Airbus to expand its industry-aligned learning solutions within South Africa's aviation training ecosystem. Additionally, ALT Academy will benefit from this partnership by gaining access to manufacturer knowledge that can be integrated into future maintenance training programs.

Nam-Binh Hoang, Airbus Country Representative in South Africa, said the partnership forms part of Airbus' longer-term commitment to developing Africa's aviation ecosystem and building a pipeline of skilled aviation professionals.

ALT Academy CEO Ryan van Wijk said the agreement represents an important step in developing practical, high-quality maintenance training capacity in South Africa.

The timing is significant. Skills shortages are increasingly being identified as a constraint on African aviation growth, with AAD 2026 itself dedicating a conference session to shortages of pilots, engineers, technicians, air traffic controllers and aviation safety personnel. Van Wijk is scheduled to participate in that discussion on 18 September.

ALT Academy already operates an extensive aviation training operation in Kempton Park, including Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 simulator training, while the organisation has expanded into ab initio pilot training.

Importantly, the MoU does not yet represent a finalised training programme. The two organisations will still determine the specific courses, content, accreditation, delivery structure and regulatory requirements before programmes are launched.

The agreement nevertheless puts another significant manufacturer-training partnership on the South African aviation map, and at AAD, where the discussion around aerospace capability increasingly extends beyond aircraft and weapons systems to the rather less glamorous, but absolutely essential, people who keep those machines flying.

The key story is the skills pipeline: Africa can order aircraft, helicopters and increasingly sophisticated systems, but without suitably trained engineers and technicians, the shiny new fleet eventually could become very expensive lawn furniture.