By Ramadhan Rajab
Kenya Airways (KQ) has opened its Pride Centre’s training doors to the public and other airline operators.
Speaking to The Standard at the airline’s headquarters, group Human Resources Director Paul Kasimu said the centre will raise safety standards by offering internationally certified aviation programmes.
Apart from raising the standards, Kasimu said the programmes would offer training opportunities and serve the growing market demands for professionals in the industry.
"We need safe skies and our clients yearn for safety in every mile they fly. The only way to achieve this is to invest in personnel by giving them the right training," said Kasimu, adding the programmes are being rolled out.
He said the airline would use the centre, previously used to train staff and for management operations, for the programmes. He said they are rolling out diploma and certificate programmes to those who want to start a career in aviation and those already practicing with other airlines.
Flying safe
"We are not competition, but out to raise our gains as well make our clients fly safe," he said.
Other short courses, he said, will be on dangerous goods regulations, airside safety, cargo skills and procedures, aircraft handling and loading. "We are IATA certified and want to be the leading training centre in hospitality and airline services across Africa. We wont like the mushrooming institutions to compromise this sector," he said.
Later this year, Kasimu said, the company will be rolling out training courses for pilots, it is putting up a Boeing 737 simulator facility.
"We want our pilots to train locally. This facility is a full flight simulator, that will cut costs and reduce time wastage," he said.
