Gulf Air Academy (GAA) will now be able to offer training and testing for pilots, technicians, engineers, and cabin crew to the highest international standards, after achieving a new accreditation.
'The Middle East region is one of the fastest growing aviation sectors in the world and it is estimated that in this region alone over the next 10 years there will be a need for 7,300 new pilots and in excess of 17,000 aviation technicians and engineers,' said GAA Chief Executive Officer Tim Shattock.
'Our accreditation to the highest industry standards, both by the Type Rating Training Organization (TRTO), by the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs (BCAA), and the UK Civil Aviation Authority, is to offer training programs that are required by pilots to operate different aircraft types', he added.
At present, GAA has accreditation for pilot training on Airbus A320 and A330/A340 aircraft. It recently bought two new flight simulators for this end, but is now looking to add Embraer flight simulator to its program to take advantage of the growing popularity of this aircraft in the regional market.
'Gulf Air is clearly our anchor customer for training and testing for air crew and engineers but we now have a total of 15 customers including airlines and corporate operators of various sizes and demand for our services has been picking up of late,' Shattock noted.
'We have 100 AB-INITO cadet pilots in training in a joint venture between ourselves, Tamkeen and the Economic Development Bank who help fund this training and a further 250 AB-INITO cadet technicians and engineers in programs… Training takes about 19 months and we will have our first batch of 20 cadets ready to qualify by April next year’, he added.