The Middle East’s first independent aviation safety training academy will be set up in Dubai World Central Aviation City.

The city, in Jebel Ali, will be home to the world’s largest maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre.

Spatial Aviation Safety Training Academy (SASTA), a specialist provider of aircrew training solutions, will build the $37 million, 14,000 sq m facility to cater to commercial airlines, private and corporate jet operators, helicopter and light fixed wing crew.

The academy will also provide customised training for airport ground staff and management.

“This regional ‘first’ will significantly add to DWC’s proposition as a totally comprehensive aviation hub and provide a vital service to the industry within the Middle East who will be able to access world-class training without the costs of sending staff overseas,” said Abdulla Al Qurashi, CEO, DWC Aviation City.

“Aviation City will be a hub for global aviation training institutions who meet all international regulatory standards in order to bridge the gap between demand and supply to the full gambit of aviation providers regionally.”

Sasta’s safety training programme is compliant with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation), JAR-OPS (Joint Aviation Regulations) and UAE’s GCAA (General Civil Aviation Authority) standards.

“Our vision is to establish Sasta as an exemplar provider of world class safety training programmes for the aviation industry, at Dubai World Central. We are excited and fully committed to play our part in the success of this truly historical project,” said Joseph McKeever, CEO, Spatial Training Solutions.

“The academy’s 40-strong staff managed by aviation industry experts will operate from a fully-equipped facility complete with an Airbus A300/310 and B777 full cabin simulator, real fire fighting trainer, ditching and water survival pool, a G500/550 Gulfstream, Hawker, Fokker and Airbus A318/A319/A320/ ,A321 and B737 door trainers. We anticipate its appeal will extend beyond the Middle East, to also service the rapidly-developing aviation sector within the Indian Sub-continent.”

The academy’s syllabus includes crew resources management, leadership courses, ‘Train The Trainer’ and aircrew safety and emergency procedures compliant with Civil Aviation Regulations.

The academy is to be operational by January 2009 when first flights will serve DWC’s Al Maktoum International Airport – set to be the world’s largest.

The $1.4 billion DWC Aviation City is a strategic aviation project launched within Dubai World Central (DWC) - the 140 sq km urban aviation, multi-phased development in Jebel Ali and will feature the MRO centre, repair and test as well as aircraft system and components installation facilities. – TradeArabia News Service