Group captain Jirapon Kuaduang, the director of the Centre, said the need stemmed from the growth in the aviation sector.

He said the airline sector needed 400-500 pilots per year, but universities and aviation schools could supply only 200-300 pilots per year. Meanwhile, the schools trained 300-400 aviation engineers, about 100 lower than the demand. Currently, there are 2,500-3,000 pilots and 8,000-9,000 engineers in the markets.

The Centre trains 1,800 aviation personnel per year including 100-120 pilots. It also offers a full range of training, diploma, bachelor and masters degrees for locals and foreigners.

Channarong Pornrungroj, director of The Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA), said 26 universities and aviation schools are offering aviation curricula. Among them, the Civic Aviation Training Centre, Eastern Asia University and Rangsit University are certified at good levels.

He said two other schools – Nakhon Panom University and Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok Bang Phra Campus – have also opened. The other schools are certified as good and best levels.

He said aviation student numbers had increased dramatically over the last three years – up from 5,000 in 2013 to 9,000 in 2014 and 15,000 in 2015.