Male’, Maldives – The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) have released a statement last night after investigating complaints against the Asian Academy of Aeronautics (AAA), better known as the Addu Flying School.
This statement included multiple demands from the government, including demands to rectify issues related to instructors, aircraft maintenance, termination of students and taking fees in USD.
The 4 page statement demanded the school overturn all notices of termination that multiple students have received as of late, and added that mandating fees to be paid in USD is against Maldivian monetary laws, and is a policy that should be ceased immediately. They also called for training schedules should be publicized, and the process of scheduling to be done with transparency.
They also urged the school to hire new instructors, along with demands to cease all activities that involve the use of an aircraft. Stating that the school has been fined for violating aircraft maintenance laws.
The statement included demands to bring in aircraft maintenance parts as soon as possible, and to cease activities that get in the way of student’s training. and also noted that after an audit in September due to previous complaints, the school is not allowed to enroll new students and that foreign students cannot be given admission.
The statement also revealed that a Civil Aviation inspector will be present daily at the school to ensure the establishment is following these demands, and that issues faced by students will be solved day to day.
It was also revealed that students at the school will receive a 6 month grace period on loan repayments.
This statement comes after months of complaints from students, and after numerous high ranking government officials, including MP Rozaina Adam, The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Maldives Aishath Nahula, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer and most recently, Vice President Faisal Naseem calling for or promised to bring meaningful change for students at the school.
The school is also currently under investigation by Maldives Police Service (MPS) after Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) submitted AAA’s case to both the MPS and the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) on December 7th as the school demands that students pay their fees in US Dollars, which is a violation of monetary regulations.
