An increased demand for medical supplies worldwide provides an opportunity for the engineering profession and manufacturing sector to contribute to the fight against COVID-19.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated 89 million medical masks, 76 million pairs of gloves and 1.6 million sets of goggles would be required each month to deal with the coronavirus.
Last week CASA announced a range of exemptions being put in place to help the Australian aviation industry during the current changing and unprecedented environment.
This week we also saw the escalation of social distancing as the government puts in place further measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.
These decisions have resulted in some of you experiencing difficulties with booking and sitting pilot and aircraft maintenance engineering exams.
We recognise this will have impacts on statutory time periods for the completion of exams.
As a result, we are working to put in place measures to provide relief to candidates who are part-way through an examination program, including Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL), Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) and Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) examinations.
This is expected to include a six month extension of the statutory time period for CPL and ATPL in which you can complete your exams, and a 12 month extension to AME examinations (including Schedule Of Experience pathways).
It is important that we all adhere to social distancing measures and do our part and the exemption we will put in place will ensure candidates are not disadvantaged in the current environment.
Regards
Shane Carmody Chief Executive Officer and Director of Aviation Safety
Have you thought about upskilling your workforce – or
furthering your studies – at South Metropolitan TAFE next year?
Applications are now open to study at South Metro TAFE in
2020.
South Metro TAFE is one of Western Australia’s largest training providers, offering courses from pre-apprenticeship, to short courses, to advanced diploma. Delivery can be in your workplace, or on campus, online or in the classroom.
South Metro TAFE works closely with industry to ensure
courses reflect the latest trends and technologies.
Australia’s first driverless metro train has passed its first full test with flying colours, having recently travelled along the entire 36 kilometres of Sydney’s $8.3 billion Metro Northwest rail line.
Engineers are now checking the new autonomous trains and systems will run smoothly on the Sydney Metro, according to Transport for NSW, with around 19,000 km of train testing completed so far.
“The new train is made by world-class manufacturer Alstom,” Sydney Metro revealed. “It’s customised for Sydney, but is based on the international Metropolis train, which is used in 25 cities including metros in Singapore, Barcelona and Amsterdam.”
All 22 six-car train sets that were ordered from Alstom in 2014 have now been delivered from the company’s Sricity facility in Andhra Pradesh in southern India.
“Alstom’s engineering hub in Bengaluru adapted the Metropolis and Urbalis solutions to the specific needs of Sydney Metro,” Alstom said when delivering the last train in December 2018 (pictured leaving India).
Some of the features of the customised trains include level access between platform and train plus platform screens for safety and fast onboarding and disembarking, three double doors on each side of a carriage, and real-time route information and live electronic route maps.
Passengers and staff will be able to see down the entire length of the interior of the train from one end to the other and the network will have continuous mobile phone coverage. Transport for NSW has touted that the new trains will run at 98% on-time.
Alstom also provided the CBTC signalling system for the North West Rail Link. Transport for NSW said the on-board train systems will be tested over the coming months as well as signalling, braking and acceleration at different speeds in tunnels.
Published by Engineers Australia: www.engineersaustralia.org.au
