The MSAR Civil Aviation Authority, the Macau Airport Company and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Beijing office today (2 December) signed a letter of intention to set up an aviation-training center in Macao.

According to the letter of intention, the "Macao IATA Aviation Training and Development Center" would provide standardized training for aviation personnel from Macao, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Programs and teaching materials adapted by the center would strictly follow IATA regulations and guidelines. The trainers would have to be approved by IATA also.

IATA has established training and development centers in Beijing, Geneva, Miami, Montreal and Singapore, and has provided training programs in Oman and Johannesburg through delegations there. Over 28,000 people from over 600 aviation companies in 185 countries have participated in training programs provided by IATA.

The President of the MSAR Aviation Authority, Rui Balacó/;, the President of the Administrative Board of the Macau Airport Company, Joã/;o Sousa Moreira, and the Principal Representative of IATA in China and the Director of Government and Industry Affairs, North Asia, Zhang Baojian, represented the three signing parties.

The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Ao Man Long, witnessed the signing of the letter of intention.