all about how we were rebranded by Out of the Square Media (OOTS) – check it out!

AviSkills (formely APAC) was officially established in 2002 in Tamworth in response to national and international shortages of skilled and qualified aviation engineering staff. AviSkills partners are TAFE NSW New England Institute, Qantaslink, Tamworth Regional Council, BAE Systems, McCarthy Consultants and Harris Solicitors.

Our official Launch took place on 8 November at BAE Systems Dining Room, with Speakers, including Doug Nancarrow Editor of Aviation Business magazine and Vice Marshall (Retired) John Quaife General Manager of BAE Systems Aviation Solutions. Both of these Guest Speakers support our new engagement strategy to work with Industry partners and be more visible in the marketplace.

On conclusion of the Launch, there was a tour of AviSkills for a chance to view student learning in action.

AviSkills Chairman Mr Charles McCarthy stated that the “Launch of the AviSkills brand marks a new direction for our organisation.  The global aviation market is in need of hundred’s of thousands of new technical staff in the next 20 years. To meet that need AviSkills has a wonderful multimillion dollar facility at Tamworth Airport to train young people to become aeronautical engineers.  Most of our students come from the New England, North West and the Hunter regions, and gain apprenticeships with some of Australia’s biggest aviation and defence companies”.

What a fantastic day it was!

See the full NBN News Report on our Launch Event here

Our official Launch will take place this Thursday 8 November commencing at 11.30 in Tamworth.
Our Twitter and Facebook Page will keep you updated with photos and announcements!

It is with great pleasure that we introduce a new brand direction for APAC – Australasian Pacific Aeronautical College. After considerable research and brand development, APAC has undergone a new name change. We are now AviSkills – Aviation Skills Academy and we have established a new brand identity. The goal here is to strengthen and reaffirm our brand as a leading provider of hands-on aviation education in Australia and to continue to train young people for a career in aviation in years to come.

Today, under police escort, the Australasian Pacific Aeronautical College (APAC) at Tamworth Airport took delivery of the former RAAF de Havilland Vampire jet aircraft removed from Tamworth’s Country Music Hands of Fame Park. The Vampire was dismantled and successfully transported to the airport after several hours of delicate engineering work supervised by Tamworth Regional Council.

According to APAC Teacher-in-Charge Russell Hodgkins, the Vampire “will be a valuable restoration project and teaching aid for our students, and an important contribution to preserving a piece of Australian aviation history”. In 1946 the de Havilland Vampire was the first fighter jet ordered and made for the RAAF.

Mr Hodgkins stated that when this project was discussed, APAC and the New England Institute of TAFE viewed the restoration as a way to contribute to the Tamworth community “There is a huge variety of work to be done, especially in aircraft metal work. We think the project could last about 18 months”.

APAC Chairman Charles McCarthy commented “on behalf of the APAC Board, APAC is proud to support this community project. Our teaching staff, some of the best in Australia, should be congratulated for putting their hands up to take this project on.”

APAC is an aviation training college at Tamworth airport providing vocational training in Aeroskills (Avionics, Mechanical and Structures) through a unique partnership between New England Institute of TAFE, QantasLink, BAE Systems, and Tamworth Regional Council. APAC provides training to some of Australia’s largest and successful aerospace and defence industries.

For Aviation courses information see www.tafetrades.com or www.tafensw.edu.au