Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RKT) has signed an agreement to establish its airfield as the operational base for new aviation adventure tourism business, ActionFlight Aviation.

The collaboration will see RKT become a hub for unique aerial experiences for residents and visitors to the Emirate, as well as providing a base for Vertical, ActionFlight’s advanced pilot training program.

The agreement has been established to help support Ras Al Khaimah’s strategic plans to expand the travel and tourism landscape of the Emirate. The collaboration will give residents and visitors the opportunity to take part in a range of aviation adventures designed to thrill and excite, such as aerobatic flights, skydiving, and hot air ballooning.

The agreement also aims to contribute to Ras Al Khaimah’s ambitious destination development strategy and enhance its growing reputation as the adventure capital of the UAE.

The new alliance will deliver a further boost to RKT’s status as the UAE’s fastest growing aviation hub as it is set to provide an operational base for ActionFlight’s Vertical training program. Specializing in Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT), which is now mandated for all new commercial, private jet, and airline pilots, both locally and internationally, the program will attract professional pilots from across the region and beyond to upgrade and refresh their skills.

The Vertical program will help to further the airport’s connections across the international aviation community. The agreement was formalized during a signing ceremony that took place at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport in the presence of Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, board member of General Civil Aviation Authority & RAK Executive Council and Atanasios Titonis, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah International Airport.

Sheikh Salem said: "We are laser focused on two extremely important areas of development that are the promotion of tourism and business investments, as they become evident in our beautiful emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Therefore, we welcome the arrival of ActionFlight who are bound to take our tourism initiatives to new heights. With ActionFlight’s hot air ballooning, skydiving, and aerobatic flight services helmed by experts and professionals from New Zealand, we look forward to providing tourists and residents with thrilling activities that the whole family can enjoy."

Atanasios Titonis, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, said: "We are excited to welcome ActionFlight Aviation with its new aviation adventure tourism business to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport. This new aviation adventure will be instrumental in promoting Ras Al Khaimah as a tourism destination and in adding a feather to the new phase of our expansions”.

The signing comes following a recent event to coincide with UAE National Day, which saw Action-Flight debut a hot air balloon at Tower Links Golf Club to mark the Golden Jubilee and introduce the new venture to partners and stakeholders.

Wayne Jack, Founder of ActionFlight, commented: “Given the increase in visitors to Ras Al Khaimah and to meet the objective of Ras Al Khaimah in becoming the adventure capital of the UAE, there is enormous potential to further develop the Emirate’s travel and tourism sector.”

 “By working with Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and partners, we are able to fulfil our goal of taking aviation adventure tourism to new heights, offering unique adrenaline-fuelled tourism experiences that will benefit the overall economy and add value to the region's long-term investment strategy. Our partnership will also compliment Vertical, our advanced pilot training program, providing state-of-the-art training facilities that will appeal to international airlines,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service