Joramco Partners to Establish Ghanaian MRO Training Academy

Credit: Joramco

Joramco’s training arm, Joramco Academy, has entered an agreement to help establish a new MRO training academy in Ghana. It says the academy will be the first of its kind in West Africa to offer advanced studies in aircraft maintenance.

Under the agreement, Joramco Academy will support African aviation services provider Aerojet Aviation in setting up Aerojet Aviation Training Academy at its home base at Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra. The school will offer a four-year aircraft maintenance program, under which students will receive a mix of theoretical and practical training.

Joramco Academy instructors will train the first batch of students alongside local instructors, who will take over the academy once Aerojet receives regulatory approvals. Joramco will also support Aerojet in obtaining these approvals from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, FAA and local Ghanaian authorities.

“Drawing on Joramco’s world-leading capabilities, as well as the training expertise of Joramco Academy, we are able to provide Aerojet with the necessary skills, and guide them on constructing facilities and achieving regulatory approvals,” says Joramco CEO Fraser Currie.

Aerojet, which is focused on addressing the lack of MRO capabilities in Africa, is establishing the academy as part of its Accra MRO Project to build up MRO capabilities in Ghana. It is working to build an MRO facility at ACC that will offer services such as airframe and engine maintenance and overhaul, as well as cabin modifications and avionics support. It plans to staff the facility with a blend of experienced international professionals and local talent—including graduates of the Aerojet Aviation Training Academy.

“Aviation skills and knowledge training are integral to the Accra MRO Project and the eventual growth of the African aviation industry, and this is exactly what our Training Academy was set up to deliver,” says Aerojet CEO Mazisi Parkes.

The Accra MRO Project is supported by the government of Ghana, and Aerojet also received grant funding in 2021 from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency for a feasibility study to support development of the ACC MRO facility. Alton Aviation Consultancy was selected to conduct the study, which is still ongoing.

Construction of Aerojet’s MRO facility is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2024. The first cohort of Aerojet Aviation Training Academy students are expected to begin training in January 2023. The academy is accepting applications for the first cohort until July 31.

Lindsay Bjerregaard

Lindsay Bjerregaard is managing editor for Aviation Week’s MRO portfolio. Her coverage focuses on MRO technology, workforce, and product and service news for AviationWeek.com, Aviation Week Marketplace and Inside MRO.