Prince Sultan Aviation Academy to be an international training center

Saudi Arabian Airlines plans to upgrade the Prince Sultan Aviation Academy to the status of a specialized international training center.
“As its privatization program progresses, the academy will be converted to a new status capable of offering wide-ranging training programs, not only to cater to the needs of the Kingdom but also receive trainees from regional and international airline companies,” said Assistant Executive Director General of Public Relations Abdullah Al-Ajhar in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency yesterday.
Al-Ajhar said the privatization of the Saudi Airlines Cargo, Saudi Arabian Airlines Catering and Saudi Ground Services Company has been completed.
“During the year the privatization of the Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries will be completed. It will be followed by privatization of other strategic units in collaboration with its strategic partners,” he added.
Capt. Talal Ageel, chief of the strategic unit of the academy, said the academy is playing the vital role of preparing and training flight navigators, cabin crew and officials of the airline's operations with advanced training techniques with the aim of Saudization of the airlines and achieving self-sufficiency in its staff.
He added that the academy offered training to workers of other airline companies as well on the ground and also using simulators.
“All academy’s training programs are designed in keeping with the regulations of the Kingdom’s General Authority for Civil Aviation.
As its programs fully adhere to international aviation standards, the academy has won international licensing from Boeing and Airbus companies,” he said.
He said the academy, which offered training to 80,802 employees in 199,038 hours over the past five years, is also regarded as an advanced aeronautic training center in the world.
The academy was founded in 2004 in Jeddah. Its programs include flight crew ground training, flight safety training, flight training support services, aviation support services, flight operations performance engineering, flight operations manuals and publications and basic flight training.
The academy was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2011 in recognition of its leading work in the world of aviation.
The Academy is also closely associated with international organizations such as IATA and AACO.