MUSCAT, NOV 23
Oman Aviation Academy, majority owned by Omani government agencies, received a formal licence to provide civil aviation training services in the Sultanate of Oman, becoming the first such institution in the country to be awarded these coveted credentials.
The license was awarded by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) at an event held at the Authority’s headquarters in Muscat earlier this week.
“We congratulate the Oman Aviation Academy for obtaining the license certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority as the first accredited institution for civil aviation training in the Sultanate of Oman,” the CAA said in a recent post. “The Academy is one of the projects supervised by the Ministry of Finance through the Partnership for Development Programme (Offset),” it further stated.
Presenting the prestigious ‘Approved Training Organisation’ (ATO) certificate to Oman Aviation Academy, Eng Naif bin Ali al Abri, President – CAA, said the license was issued following an extensive audit of the Academy’s capabilities, its compliance with various national and international requirements, and overall financial wherewithal. The four-stage audit also covered a review of the Academy’s training manuals and curricula, and a full inspection of its simulators and flight training aircraft.
Capt Abdullah bin Murad al Balushi, CEO – Oman Aviation Academy, said the new license will enable the institution to place the country on “the world map for civil aviation training”. It will also strengthen Oman’s positioning in the regional and international aviation training markets, he added.
Located at Suhar Airport, Oman Aviation Academy was established in February 2018 as a partnership involving, among others, the Ministry of Defence Pension Fund, Oman National Investments Development Company (TANMIA) and Al Hosn Investment Company. Also playing a key role as an offset partner is Airbus Helicopters, while CAE, a global aviation training organisation, is a strategic partner in the establishment of the campus and its curriculum.
In May this year, OAA took delivery of its first two training aircraft. When fully operational, the Academy will boast a campus designed to international standards. Featuring a total built-up area of 35,000 sq metres, the facility will have a capacity to accommodate around 150 students per annum and will be equipped with state-of-the art training systems, including four flight simulators. An 80-feet high Air Traffic Control (ATC) will be integrated with the main building.
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