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29 September 2022; Colombo - SriLankan Airlines’ training academy, SriLankan Aviation College, recently concluded training on Dangerous Goods Regulations - Categories 6, 10 and 11 for the technical crew and security staff of Helitours, the commercial air arm of the Sri Lanka Air Force. SriLankan Aviation College’s training programme on Dangerous Goods Regulations and its panel of instructors are certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka. The college is the premier institute in Sri Lanka for aviation training, and is also regarded as one of the top aviation academies in the region, drawing students from the Middle East, Pakistan and the Maldives regularly.

Safety is paramount in the aviation industry. Training on Dangerous Goods Regulations is therefore mandatory, and sets out to equip aviation professionals with the knowledge necessary to competently accept, handle and process dangerous goods air cargo. The topics covered in the programme include legal requirements; operational restrictions; packaging instructions; labeling; documentation; and hidden dangerous goods to ensure the safe transportation of such goods, passengers, and aircraft.

On completion of the programme, Wing Commander of Helitours, Gemunu Mahanama, expressed his appreciation stating, “The training programme conducted by qualified trainers of SriLankan Aviation College was a great experience. The knowledge that our crew received will be instrumental in ensuring that we fulfill regulatory requirements and establish a quality workforce at Helitours in the long run.”

Helitours is one of the main domestic airline operators in Sri Lanka and plays a dominant role in promoting tourism in the country. The company provides helicopter and fixed wing aircraft transport facilities to passengers. Its aircraft fleet is operated and maintained by qualified pilots and engineers, in line with the standards of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.

Rainier Goonewardena, Senior Executive - Cabin Safety Instructor of SriLankan Airlines, who facilitated the training programme for Helitours stated, “The Cabin Safety Training section of SriLankan Airlines has trained cabin crew members of a number of commercial airlines internationally on regulatory subjects. However, supporting Helitours in establishing a quality product is a social obligation towards our security forces.”

“SriLankan Aviation College is honored to be a constant training partner of Helitours and assist the Sri Lanka Air Force with their human resource training needs. We look forward to growing the symbiotic relationship between the two organizations in the years ahead and the competency of the workforce employed in the domestic aviation sector,” affirmed Primal De Silva, General Manager of SriLankan Aviation College.

With over 34 years of experience in aviation training to international standards, SriLankan Aviation College presents a wide range of training options in the region. The college is certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA); International Air Transport Association (IATA); the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka; the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan; and the Civil Aviation Authority of Maldives. It is also a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAES) and the European Aviation Maintenance Training Committee (EAMTC). The college collaborates with world-renowned training and academic institutions and extends comprehensive aviation and corporate training options to students as well as to working professionals.