UTHM Aerospace Techno Park To Transform Southern Malaysia By 2050

BATU PAHAT, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- The Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Aerospace Techno Park in Tanjung Laboh, slated for full completion by 2050, is set to transform the economic, educational and aerospace landscape of southern Malaysia.

The ambitious project, which will feature Southeast Asia’s first university-owned and operated airport, is envisioned as a fully integrated aerospace hub for education, training, research and industry.

Chief executive of the UTHM Tanjung Laboh Management Office, Prof Dr Erween Abd Rahim, said the phased development will repurpose the historic Tanjung Laboh Airport from a small airfield used during World War II into a major aerospace centre.

“By 2050, this will be more than just a training facility; it will be a complete aerospace ecosystem that drives new economic growth and reduces dependency on Batu Pahat and Parit Raja,” he told Bernama.

He added that with support from the Johor state government and local councils, the Techno Park is expected to become a model aviation-tourism destination, supporting Johor’s ambition to become a leading high-tech industrial hub.

Erween said UTHM has around 300 aviation students, with enrolment projected to at least double once the project is completed.

“The development will generate significant direct and indirect employment in airport operations, campus administration, technical support, logistics, security, and community services like homestays and catering,” he emphasised.

He explained that the 200-hectare airport will open its first phase, an 800-metre runway and an Air Traffic Control tower, in the third quarter of this year, following its completion in April. 

“Phase two, scheduled for 2035, includes a teaching factory, faculty and administration buildings, student housing, and a seaplane base, culminating in the Techno Park’s full operational launch by 2050,” he added.

He highlighted that UTHM’s unique position as the region’s first university with its own airport, combined with competitive fees and a strategic location, is poised to draw both domestic and international students.

UTHM also plans to broaden its academic offerings to include drone aviation, air traffic control, and air transport management at the diploma and degree levels.

Current flagship programmes include a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Aeronautical Engineering (Professional Pilot), as well as courses in Aircraft Maintenance and Aircraft Manufacturing.

To enhance graduate prospects, the university has established partnerships with industry leaders, including Malaysia Airlines, Senai Airport, and aircraft maintenance firms, alongside aviation training academies like HM Aerospace Sdn Bhd and the International Aero Training Academy.

The development of Tanjung Laboh Airport as an aerospace hub was previously endorsed by the King, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, during his royal address at UTHM's 25th-anniversary chancellor's address on Sept 20, 2018.

-- BERNAMA