Joramco Challenges Other MROs To Invest In Training
Today, about 200 total students are enrolled in the four- and five-year programs and the Academy plans for 300 students in 2026. The school will continue to add about 100 new students annually until it reaches 500, at which point it will need to expand its facility, says Joramco Academy head Laurence Beraldo. Land is available to do that. He says the Academy also plans to expand its training capabilities.
DUBAI—“Just do it” has been Nike’s tagline for years, but it’s also the command MRO Executive Fraser Currie delivered to other MROs to invest in training.
The commercial aviation industry started talking about an impending maintenance technician/engineer shortage at least two decades ago, so it’s beyond time to sit on the sidelines, says Currie, who recently was promoted from Joramco’s CEO to chief strategy and commercial officer for parent company Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. He vociferously implored MROs at the Dubai Air Show to take action—“Don’t wait for someone else to do it!”
Amman, Jordon-based MRO Joramco opened its 5,000 m2 (about 54,000 ft.2) Academy in October 2024 with a four-year program that includes two years of theoretical training and two years of practical training. It also offers a five-year program that integrates a Bachelor of Science in aeronautical engineering from the University of Jordan into the program. Students of both qualify to take the EASA B1 license test on completion of the program.
Today, about 200 total students are enrolled in the four- and five-year programs and the Academy plans for 300 students in 2026. The school will continue to add about 100 new students annually until it reaches 500, at which point it will need to expand its facility, says Joramco Academy head Laurence Beraldo. Land is available to do that. He says the Academy also plans to expand its training capabilities.
In October, 81 students started the program, 28 of whom are enrolled in the five-year program that includes the bachelor’s degree, Beraldo says.
Joramco initially started its original smaller school to support Joramco’s growth, but when the MRO started planning its new 12,000-m2 Hangar 7, which added 30% capacity, it decided to build the new Academy that would be open to students from all over. Today, students from 12 different countries attend the school.
Joramco offers 22 lines of maintenance and is getting close to providing nearly 2 million labor hours annually.