Bahrain-based Afaq Institute of Aviation Technology has signed a new agreement with Nastech/Flynas airline to establish the first European EASA 147 approved aircraft engineering training academy in Saudi Arabia.

The signing ceremony was held at Nastech’s headquarters in Riyadh and was attended by Izani Azman Merican, chief executive officer of Nastech and Mahmood AlBalooshi, managing director and chief executive of Afaq Institute of Aviation Technology.

Under the agreement, the institute will manage the Aircraft Engineering Maintenance Program (AEMP) which will be conducted at Nastech's facilities in Riyadh. It is targeted towards Saudi youth with high school certificates.

The program is scheduled to commence in May 2014 for the duration of five years — one year of Aviation English orientation followed by four years of studying for the EASA certificate - and will qualify successful trainees with the EASA 147 certificate and EASA Aircraft Maintenance Engineer License issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, said a statement.

Mahmood AlBalooshi, managing director and chief executive of Afaq said: “We are delighted to announce this key partnership with Nastech/Flynas airline as the new academy will be the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia and by working together with our partners we will offer Saudi graduates the opportunity to train for their Aerotechnic Engineering degrees in Saudi rather than training abroad.”

Izani Merican, chief executive officer of Nastech, said: “The AEMP is a highly intensive training program that presents a marvelous opportunity for young Saudi technicians to gain the internationally recognized EASA Part 66 Aircraft Engineering License, which qualifies them for a career in aviation industry, one of the fastest growing sectors of the Kingdom’s economy.”

Nastech, a company specialized in aircraft engineering and maintenance, is a subsidiary of the National Air Services Group (NAS Holding).  

Nastech’s capability is range from Cessna Citation 550 Bravo, various Gulfstream, Hawker, A320 family, BBJ, Airbus A340, in addition to supporting different types of operations such as FAR 91, 125, and 121. This diversity has created a unique environment for Nastech organizational system to be able to adjust and accommodate multiple aircraft types, the statement said.

Riyadh-based Flynas is 37 per cent owned by Saudi investment firm Kingdom Holding and the rest by National Airline Services Holding (NAS Holding).

Saudi Arabia's first and only budget airline, Flynas, will expand its current fleet of 18 aircraft to 27 with six Airbus A320 and three A330 planes.  -TradeArabia News Service