(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- The Oman Aviation Academy (OAA) shareholders agreement signing ceremony was held at Grand Hyatt Muscat on Wednesday.
OAA is an Omani Authority for Partnership for Development (OAPFD) project, in partnership with Airbus Helicopters, Oman National Investments Development Company (TANMIA), Al Hosn Investment Company and the Ministry of Defence Pension Fund.
The signing of the agreement was held under the patronage of H E Dr Ali bin Masoud bin Ali al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the authority.
The agreement was signed by Dr Dhafir bin Awadh Marai al Shanfari, CEO, OAPFD; Ben Bridge, executive vice president, Global Business, Airbus Helicopters; Sheikh Rashid bin Saif al Saadi, CEO of TANMIA; Osama Mariam, CEO of Al Hosn Investment and Capt Said bin Mohammed al Ismaili, assistant general manager in the Ministry of Defence Pension Fund.
OAA is first such aviation training facility to be established in Oman, in cooperation with Airbus Helicopters.
The academy will be based at Sohar Airport and operated by CAE Oxford, a leading civil and defence aviation training company with approximately 160 training sites in more than 35 countries.
OAA will provide training to national and regional cadres with the aim of awarding them an EASA aviation licence (ATPL) to become pilots with regional and international airlines.
The authority has signed a cooperation agreement with Sultan Qaboos University. In October, the first group of students will begin a special foundation course developed by SQU.
'This important agreement reflects the strategic partnership between the sultanate and shareholder companies. It will play a role in supplying the local aviation sector with pilots either in the civil or military sector,'
H E Dr Sunaidy said. 'OAA is a training platform that will contribute in promoting the education sector through the development of a new curriculum. Through this project, we hope that Oman will be the first destination for neighbouring and regional countries to benefit from the training and educational services in the field of aviation.'
The academy is expected to attract more than 80 trainees every academic year.
The academy will also play an important role in enhancing the operational role of Sohar Airport, attracting foreign investments and providing around 50 new direct jobs.
OAA will come up over an area of 4,000sq m with a capacity of 150 trainees.
It will include an area of 3,000sq m for aircraft hangar, student housing, tower and a taxiway. The construction work will begin in the last quarter of this year. On the sidelines of the ceremony, OAA, signed a training agreement with Oman Air.
OAA will provide further annual training to 48 Oman Air pilots so that they do not have to be sent abroad.
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