KOTA KINABALU: KKIP Aerospace Training Centre (KATC) plans to be a Sabahan-led aerospace technological company by 2026 and is planning for more collaboration and training to achieve this.

       KATC chief executive officer Aminuddin Zakaria said collaborations with the right partners will ensure this vision can materialise.

       KATC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of KKIP Sdn Bhd.

       To that end, Aminuddin said a MOU was inked between SMTRACK Bhd, Borneo Jet & Cargo Sdn Bhd and Borneo Drone Sdn Bhd.

       The event, witnessed by state Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam and state Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry deputy permanent secretary Zainudin Aman, would see SMTRACK collaborate in on-the-job training and attachments for students, apprenticeships, provision of skills manpower and future employment placements.

       The establishment of Borneo Jet & Cargo (in partnership with Helistar Resources Sdn Bhd) and Borneo Drone in Sabah, meanwhile, will support KATC's aspirations of becoming an aerospace technological company by 2026, Aminuddin added.

       “The collaborations with SMTRACK, Borneo Jet & Cargo and Borneo Drone will provide the knowledge and exposure to the people of Sabah to become experts in the field.

       "Eventually, it will empower them to take on the leadership role and run an organisation successfully in future.

       "This opens future employment opportunities for Sabahans and will directly impact the future economy of Sabah," he said, adding that KATC wanted to establish more research and development facilities in Sabah, especially focusing on composite repairs.

       Aminuddin said that apart from that, the centre also wanted to supply skilled technicians to support aircraft parts manufacturing and the MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) ecosystem in Sabah, which will, in turn, help Sabah's economy.