Students at the Maldivian Aviation Academy has voiced their frustration over mounting course sees.
The students claim that the flying courses at the academy have been revised with increased flying hours with a subsequent bump in the course fees.
A batch of 35 students who were unable to complete their studies when Sri Lanka's AAA stepped out from managing the academy in 2021.
Following a management change, the students resumed their courses in January 2022 after taking a refresher course which included 150 hours of theoretical classes and 10 hours of flying.
After conclusion of the theoretical component, the actual course had commenced five months prior, however the students have yet attend the flying component under the course.
Students have complained that the flying dates have been pushed back on multiple occasions adding to their frustration.
Meanwhile, most of the students remain in a state of confusion regarding the new management's conduct at the academy.
While the theoretical components of the course proceeded via online, students are required to fly into Addu City, where the academy is run, for flying lessons.
Several students have already flown into the city after the academy had announced flying schedules.
The most recent scheduled date for flying components was 27th April, which however did not follow through.
Moreover, one of the academy's students had claimed that though the students who attended the courses under AAA will only be required to attend to the components they could not complete, the new management announced in contradiction mandating all the students to attend 50 to 100 hours of flying.
The extension on flying hours for students who already completed parts of their required flying component will once again have to settle additional fees, putting most of the students in further distress.
The main frustration is centered around the hike in course fees, especially for the students who are weeks away from completing their studies.
Reportedly a fee of USD1,500 (MVR23,152) was collected from all the students for the refresher course. The fee is expected to rise following the academy's decision.
The fully government owned Maldivian Aviation Academy is operated by a Czech Republican flying academy. The academy was formed through a partnership between Island Aviation and Maldives National University (MNU).
Meanwhile, the Deputy Managing Director of Island Aviation Ms. Aishath Jennifer contested to the mounting student complaints.
According to Ms. Jennifer the changes to the course syllabus were made in accordance to the regulations by Maldives Civil Aviation Authority.
The Deputy MD of Island Aviation further stressed that the flying hours were announced in accordance to the Aviation Authority's guidelines, implying the decision was just.
However, upon questioned about whether or not the flying hours of the students who attended the academy under AAA will be factored in, she declined to respond directly stating that Island Aviation will act in accordance with the directives provided by Civil Aviation.
Furthermore, Island Aviation's Deputy MD claimed that the students who previously completed portions of their flying component will be 'recognized' for their completed hours.
Addressing the issue of delayed flying hours under the course, Ms. Jennifer claimed that the technical aspects of aircraft cannot be completed straight on time.
Island Aviation had contracted a foreign aircraft engineering firm for the maintenance of the planes.
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