Aviation meets architecture: re-establishing the aeronautical industry through educational institutions

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 > > /// A B S T R A C T 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