Bahrain-based Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA) has won the Training and Education Provider of the Year Award at the Aviation Business Awards 2011 ceremony in Dubai.

Organised by magazine publisher ITP Business, the annual Aviation Business Awards has established itself as the ultimate celebration of achievements within the Middle East aerospace industry over the past 12 months.

GAA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company.

The judges said that the range of aviation training courses, course structure, teaching faculty, response from the market and the number of international accreditations received since the establishment of the academy are some of the main factors in GAA winning this key award.

'This award is firm recognition of the enormous strides the Gulf Aviation Academy has made in a short space of time,' said Mumtalakat chief executive Talal Alzain.

'As the sole shareholder in GAA, Mumtalakat has been an active supporter of the academy.

'The success of GAA contributes to ongoing efforts to boost Bahrain's status as a premier aviation hub and plays a vital role in the training and up-skilling of Bahrainis,' he added.

'The award is a milestone for Gulf Aviation Academy and it is an illustration of the exceptional efforts undertaken by all of the staff since its inception,' said GAA chief executive Tim Shattock.

'All of the team at GAA is delighted and proud to win this prestigious award and receive such recognition from the industry.

'We will continue to build the academy as a key centre of aviation training excellence that customers turn to for their aviation training requirements and are confident in the services they receive.

'We thank our growing customer base for their highly valued support and the part they played in winning the award,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service