Bandung – The Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FTMD) at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) welcomed representatives from Altara and Aviation Australia on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) to discuss collaboration opportunities in education, training, and human resource development in the aviation sector. This meeting serves as an initial step toward exploring partnerships that enhance student competence while strengthening the connection between academia and the aviation industry.

The meeting was attended by representatives from FTMD ITB, namely Prof. Dr. Ir. Hermawan Judawisastra, M.Eng.; Dr.-Ing. Ir. Javensius Sembiring, S.T., M.T.; Dr. Ir. Afdhal, S.T., M.T.; Ditho Ardiansyah Pulungan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D.; as well as representatives from Altara and Aviation Australia, consisting of Arlo Erdaka (Director), Brendan Martin (Director), Harza Hanafiah (Associate), and Carlo Sakiris (Associate).

On this occasion, Altara presented the development of the Low Altitude Economy ecosystem, a concept focusing on the development of aviation industries operating in low-altitude airspace. This initiative encompasses the development of a Technical Training Academy, Pilot Training Academy, Low Altitude Economy Center of Excellence, and an eVTOL Operations Platform. The program is designed to address workforce demands in the aviation sector, which are projected to reach approximately 258,000 personnel, including pilots, aircraft technicians, and cabin crew.

Aviation Australia also introduced its institutional profile as an aviation education and training provider with international partnership experience, supported by an extensive campus network and training facilities, alongside various accreditations and approvals from aviation regulators. This experience opens opportunities for collaboration in delivering vocational and professional education in the aviation field.

During the discussion, the possibility of placing FTMD students at Aviation Australia was raised, allowing them to gain hands-on experience in the aviation industry while participating in certification or licensing programs relevant to workforce needs. One of the proposed schemes is an industrial exposure program lasting approximately six months, enabling students to gain professional experience prior to entering the workforce.

In addition to student mobility, both parties discussed opportunities for curriculum alignment between FTMD ITB and Aviation Australia. Through curriculum mapping, courses completed by FTMD ITB students could potentially receive credit recognition or credit transfer within Aviation Australia’s certification programs. This scheme is expected to accelerate the acquisition of professional licenses without repeating completed coursework, while also opening avenues for continuing studies at the master’s level. The utilization of online learning was also discussed as an alternative to support academic collaboration.

As a follow-up, FTMD ITB and Aviation Australia agreed to further explore collaboration opportunities in education, training, aviation certification, and the development of industrial experience for students.

Through this exploratory effort, FTMD ITB continues to expand its international partnership network to deliver more practical learning experiences for students while supporting talent development prepared to meet the demands of the global aviation industry.

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