Airbus has maintained a strong relationship with Indonesia for over 40 years, since 1976. Airbus' presence in Indonesia is marked by the supply of various commercial aircraft, such as the A330 and A320 Family, as well as civilian and military helicopters ranging from light models to the H225M. Airbus also plays a role in monitoring Indonesia's natural resources through the Pleiades and TerraSAR-X satellites, which help improve resource management efficiency.

Before holding a sharing session with students, the Airbus team met with the Acting Dean of FMAE, Prof. Lavi Rizki Zuhal, Ph.D., along with the FMAE ITB executive board. In this meeting, they discussed the potential for academic collaboration to increase the quality of Indonesia's aerospace industry, including research and development of more environmentally friendly aviation technology through SAF. Airbus recognizes the crucial role of universities in supporting innovation and developing human resources in the aviation sector, especially in addressing the increasingly complex challenges of the global industry.

The sharing session held at the FMAE Shared Lecture Room provided ITB students with an opportunity to get to know one of the world's leading aerospace companies more closely. The session began with a statement from Paul Coignec, emphasizing that Indonesia is a key market for Airbus. With its strategic geographical location and rapidly growing aviation industry, Indonesia plays a crucial role in Airbus' expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.

In the session moderated by M. Ridlo Akbar, Senior Manager of Business Growth Indonesia, Airbus presented the demographics of its workforce in Indonesia, which currently consists of 30 employees, with an equal composition of 50% women and 50% men. Of this total, 84% work in the helicopter sector, 10% in commercial aviation, and 6% in defense and space. Airbus also emphasized its commitment to diversity and inclusion, with women holding 50% of managerial positions.

Paul Coignec, Vice President of HR Airbus Asia Pacific, also provided ITB students with insights on how to become part of Airbus. Students gained valuable knowledge about the qualifications, skills, and experience required to compete in the global aviation industry. Additionally, the session served as motivation and encouragement, reinforcing that their abilities are globally competitive and opening opportunities to become part of Airbus Asia Pacific.

As part of its talent development efforts, Airbus launched the Airbus APAC Leadership University in Singapore in the third quarter of 2023. This initiative aims to provide more development opportunities and networking platforms for employees in the Asia-Pacific region. Paul Coignec concluded the session by encouraging students to actively participate in various opportunities offered by Airbus, such as career fairs (both virtual and on-site), campus events, conferences, as well as internship programs, as Airbus frequently recruits potential employees through these channels.

This visit served as a valuable opportunity for FMAE ITB students to gain deeper insights into the global aviation industry and explore career opportunities at Airbus, a company that plays a significant role in both Indonesia’s and the world's aviation ecosystem.

Reporter: Ainayya Azzahra (FMAE ITB Media Team)
Translator: Hanna Daniela Ayu (Aerospace Engineering 2021)
Editor: Anggi Nurdiani (Management, 2024)