Aviation meets architecture: re-establishing the aeronautical industry through educational institutions
Date
2012-08-07
Authors
Mofu, Mukuka
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Abstract
The focus of this study is to design a national aviation training institution in
an attempt to aid in the revitalization of the aviation industry by establishing
a means of training and retaining technical expertise. This paper will act as a
platform to bring to light the effect a shortage of aviators and engineers in the
industry would have on the country.
The processes of globalization both enable and place constantly rising demands
on the provision of transportation infrastructure and technology, predominantly
in major cities that operate as nodes in global networks. These strains can be
inclusive or lead to exclusion and marginalization. South Africa is one of the
most prominent nodes in Africa, and O.R Tambo one of the busiest points of
entry. The airport not only connects the country to the rest of the world but also
its African neighbors, there is a necessity to sustain this connection it is vital
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to the continuing growth in global transfers of people and materials 1. The use
of smaller airports as supporting infrastructure could assist in maintaining
the connection, and in so doing assist and connect the smaller towns they are
situated, aiding the areas as catalytic interventions. However by improving
both the infrastructure and the skills one can provide the best means for a
sustainable global connection, with current infrastructure over capacitated
and dwindling technical expertise it may be difficult to maintain this connection
in future. This paper examines alternative educational institutions to help curb
the skills shortage and also proposes better re-use of existing infrastructure
to assist with the overflow of air traffic