WingsWay transforms industry training

Ongoing pandemic has brought in a new phase of training in various sectors. Shakir Kantawala, Co-founder & Managing Partner, WingsWay Training Institute LLC (Dubai) & WingsWay Global Training Academy (India) shares with TRAVTALK some of the methods utilised to make training in aviation sector more comprehensive.

Shehara Rizly

What will you say about the new training techniques, especially after the pandemic?

Pre-pandemic & pre-technology, most trainings were done face-to-face in the classroom. Now, a mixture of the pandemic learnings, new technologies and new ideas have revamped training delivery. We now have virtual classrooms, done live with the same degree of learner-instructor interactivity. This allows the student to be at the centre of training. New technologies include virtual reality—which has already been put to good use in ground operations training—while new ideas include gamification.

Could you describe some of the advantages of Virtual Live Instructor Led Trainings?

They are cost effective, affordable and give you the opportunity to learn from anywhere. You can also say that it is a more time saver option as there is no travel time. On the other hand, you can also learn on your own time and cover a wide range of subject areas, grow your network, get high-quality training and in a time-zone to suit you.

How do you attract talent?

Fresh training delivery methods are helping to attract new talent to our industry.  IATA Training is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. WingsWay, along with IATA, strives to be the first point of reference worldwide for aviation professionals and students. We train more than 100,000 professionals each year in subjects across aviation, airports, travel & tourism, with access to industry best practice and international standards. There are plenty of growth opportunities for young freshers and experienced talent. Under guidance from IATA, we now conduct ORES (Online Exams with Remote Supervision) every two months, in January, March, May, July, September and November.  Our mock exams and handholding by our industry expert trainers, during the exam preparation stage, ensure that our students have a very high passing rate. Our courses and qualifications are undoubtedly the most respected and valued within the aviation industry.

Could you share with us some new areas of focus?

One new area of training is sustainability. Aviation is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Concentration on leadership programmes is vital. Cybersecurity is an essential component in the industry’s digital transformation. In-depth knowledge of the latest developments will be critical to aviation’s success.