CAE and the Saudi National Company of Aviation (SNCA) announced a collaboration agreement for the creation of a CAE Authorised Training Centre in the region. The announcement was made at the Dubai Air Show.

Under the terms of the agreement, CAE will provide the authorised training centre in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the key elements for world-class cadet training such as commercial pilot license curriculum and courseware, the training of staff and instructors, and safety and quality control systems. The new CAE Authorised Training Centre is funded by SNCA and will be located at King Fahad International Airport, Dammam, in a dedicated 40,000 square metre site.

Pilots of tomorrow

“Developing the pilots of tomorrow is our priority and as the leading worldwide training organisation in the world, CAE is the best suitable partner to help us with the launch of this project and to accompany us in this journey”, said Othman Al Moutairi, President & CEO, SNCA.

He added: “This centre gives us the ability to supply locally trained pilots to our growing regional and global airlines, whilst also providing a highly skilled career opportunity for students”.

“We are very proud to host the first flight academy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that trains both men and women of Saudi and non-Saudi origin. Bringing this high-quality training to our region is in line with The Kingdom’s vision to bring economic growth and create job opportunities,” said Turki Aljawini, CEO of King Fahad International airport.

Nick Leontidis, CAE Group President, Civil Aviation Training Solutions, commented: “With over 70 years of training heritage, CAE has been recognized by pilots and its airline customers for high-quality instruction, world-class training facilities and for its expertise in the development of outstanding pilot creation programs. We are honoured to support our partners in the aviation industry to establish new training centres like the one the Saudi National Company of Aviation is establishing to meet the growing demand for new pilots in the region. This new CAE Authorised Training Centre insignia is a testament to our commitment to shaping the future of pilot training.”