Mega Aero Training Academy
Based at OR Tambo International Airport, Mega Aero Training Academy, heads to its 10th year in the aviation training sector and 2019’s progress has been nothing short of amazing. As part of the Safomar Aviation Group, MATA management has shown growth and strategically set out new training courses available in the industry from around the world and of course constant and ever evolving inclusions of new material into training modules, so as to ensure that all students take part in all aspects of the course offerings are trained on the latest industry standards and material and investigation into technology hubs and world skills programmes.
MATA introduced EASA training through SR Technics with this new joint venture MATA and SRT can now train EASA B1 and B2 opening a world of opportunities for engineers and exposing them to better opportunities. Thus, training engineers for Africa and the world.
The theme for the year #womenwithinaviation has encouraged MATA to be part of initiatives encouraging more female students to join the aviation industry by choosing to study courses such as Aircraft Engineering. MATA’s first initiative for the year started with the collaboration with STEM for WITS Integrated experience; where students were given an aircraft crash scenario and given an opportunity to explain with research and findings the reasons of the incident. In conjunction to the WITS integrated Experience, STEM also hosted a STEM Conference at the Dome in Northgate for students who are interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths careers where MATA was one of the main sponsors for the event. MATA was proud to announce at the event that two bursaries were up for grabs for 2021 learners to study apprenticeship training for three years at the school.
With the strategic plans in place sufficient resources and time have been spent on attending airshows and in 2019 MATA attended five airshows across the country and Africa including the Nelspruit Airshow, Swartkop Airshow, Botswana Airshow to name a few. MATA has also focused on increasing its brand awareness through social media platforms which has successfully resulted in an increase of potential students and enquiries throughout the year.
MATAs growth also resulted in having a class full of apprentices from Tanzania. The Tanzanian students have shown excellent progress throughout the year and MATA feels humbled to have hosted them and to help uplift fellow African countries evolve their aviation culture even more.
2019 also brought change where the first female director from MATA Ms Fiona Hall who was appointed as Mega Aero Training Academy’s Director alongside Ms Glenrose Kganyago. Ms Hall has been with MATA for more than five years and has shown excellent leadership with her staff and mentorship with many other staff members across the Safomar Aviation Group.
Embracing the theme for the year #womenwithinaviation, MATA hosted its very first Women within Aviation high tea. The event was hosted to commemorate the amazing work done by phenomenal women within the aviation industry. A special invite was received from Natalie Le Riche Mrs South Africa finalist sponsored by Tammy Taylor SA and hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni. Mata is also the gold sponsor for Natalie Le Riche and proud to support her journey through the Mrs South Africa pageant that will be hosted in November 2019.
2019 showed that MATA has effectively contributed towards the aviation sector and continued to find new ways to grow. With 2020 being MATA’s 10th year the in the aviation industry, plans have been made this a year to remember. MATA plan to introduce new courses, being fully EASA accredited in South Africa, introducing online student system and attending the 2020 AAD exhibition.