The partnership aims to meet China's demand for 10,000 pilots annually in the coming years.
OxfordSaudia flight academy continued achieving further cooperation with its partners in the People's Republic of China; This is after previous successful efforts in an agreement to train 1,000 Chinese students at the OxfordSaudia academy in the Kingdom, with a value
exceeding 350 million Saudi riyals in 2021.
Following that agreement, another announcement was made this month by both OxfordSaudia and YCATCO China - Shandong, signing an agreement to establish training centers to train the Chinese students at two locations in China, in order to provide pilots cadets to meet China’s future needs, with a training capacity of up to 4,000 students in the two locations.
The agreement sets a new precedent of its kind to the Saudi exports of the aviation and the education sectors, as it highlighted the role of the academy in the aviation education industry in China and in the domestic region, which increases opportunities of cooperation and exchange of experience and technology between the two countries, with an exponential development in creating an environment that attracts investments and creates job opportunities for young Saudi Arabian and Chinese men and women.
OxfordSaudia Academy aims to create attractive job opportunities for its fresh graduate students through its program "Flight Training Ending with Employment", by working as a flight instructor at its branches in Saudi Arabia, China, or other Oxford international academies that are compatible its regulatory structure and curricula. This partnership will also create up to 1,600 job opportunities for the Saudi graduates to join after graduation over a period of 3 years.
OxfordSaudia provides the branches with a fleet of aircraft, Saudi flight instructors, systems and curricula, and other support, while the Chinese side provides buildings, infrastructure, permits, and workforce.
The Chinese company YCATCO works in the professional human resources field, specifically in aviation talents, and intends with this partnership to employ its services and expertise, alongside with OxfordSaudia competencies in the operation and management of aviation academies, which demonstrated its effectiveness during and after the Covid-19 pandemic in operation recovery and performance improvement. The role of YCATCO also lies in signing the necessary government permits and requirements, as well as working on the procedures for commercial pilot licenses in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
The role of OxfordSaudia in the agreement is as a service provider and a strategic partner in managing the two sites and providing the necessary crew of Saudi flight instructors, which might reach up to 1,600 trainers, and a fleet of approximately 120 training aircraft, and more than 20 flight simulators. Its duties revolves around providing quality and safety management systems, operational processes, provision of Saudi flight instructors, curriculum development & maintenance, maintenance activities, IT infrastructure and assets, and a student selection process. Key position holders, management support and oversight, exchange of overflow training and education, and other tasks of the Saudi Oxford Academy’s specialization in the field of aviation education are also to be a focus.
Delivery of Airbus A320 7000XR and 600XR in 2nd half of 2021 with an additional 2 7000XR as an option. • Devices on order to receive EASA and FAA approvals as per contractual agreement.
OxfordSaudia Flight Academy is proud to announce the manufacturing of its Airbus A320 7000XR full-flight simulator (FFS) and one Airbus A320 600XR flight training device (FTD) for The Saudi National Company of Aviation is one month from delivery readiness. These devices will be installed in a new OxfordSaudia Flight Academy Facility in the Capitol City of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In November 2019, OxfordSaudia Flight Academy had previously announced the purchase of these devices and plans to set up a Training Organization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The training center will be managed & supported by OxfordSaudia Flight Academy’s expertise and guidance for the establishment of the training program including curriculum and courseware, hardware and maintenance support, the training of staff and instructors, as well as safety and quality control systems. Through this new center, OxfordSaudia Flight Academy will now provide training center operations services in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
"As OxfordSaudia Flight Academy the world-leader in commercial aviation pilot training, we come closer to the completion of this project and delivery of the devices, OxfordSaudia Flight Academy look forward to setting up this new Training Center in the Capital City of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia," said Captain Larry Wade, Chief Executive Officer, OxfordSaudia Flight Academy. "Since the announcement of the inception of our flight academy, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. We have witnessed tremendous demand for pilot training, stemming beyond Saudi Nationals. These are good success indicators as we are bringing world-class pilot training capabilities to the region. Our option, of two additional 7000XR devices, is to enable us to address the growing demand for recurrent and new training demands in the industry regionally. We have decided to put the OxfordSaudia Flight Academy Training Organization in Riyadh in order to better serve the airlines in the Kingdom.’’
OxfordSaudia Flight Academy is acquiring the Airbus A320 600XR flight training device (FTD) and Airbus A320 7000XR Series full-flight simulator (FFS) equipped with the innovative Tropos™ 6000XR visual system. The FTD and FFS will be delivered at OxfordSaudia Flight Academy’s training facility in the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the second half of 2021.
About OxfordSaudia Flight Academy
OxfordSaudia Flight Academy has established the center to help address the significant regional shortage in aviation training. The center recognizes the skills of individuals in the region and the need to have a regionally based professional career path for qualifying students. The Full Flight Simulator Training program is the second phase of development for the aviation center following on from the established OxfordSaudia Flight Academy.
OxfordSaudia Flight Academy is the branch of the global leader in training for the civil aviation, defense, and security backed by a record of more than 70 years of industry firsts, we continue to help define global training standards with our innovative virtual-to-live training solutions to make flying safer, maintain defense force readiness. We have the broadest global presence in the industry, with over 10,000 employees, 160 sites and training locations in over 35 countries. Each year, we train more than 220,000 civil and defense crewmembers, including more than 135,000 pilots.
OxfordSaudia Flight Academy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ethiopian Airlines Group to collaborate on aviation training services through its Ethiopian Aviation Academy, the largest and most modern Aviation Training Center in Africa. The agreement is aimed at exploring areas of cooperation in pilot training and other Aviation fields like Aircraft Maintenance, Cabin Crew, Commercial, Ground Operations, and Dispatch.
At its facilities established on the airside of the King Fahad International Airport in Dammam, the eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, OxfordSaudia currently has students enrolled to become pilots in the coming three years. With its current capabilities and training technologies, the OxfordSaudia Flight Academy aims to assist Ethiopian Airlines with its growing pilot needs in excess of its current capacity and
also, other technical assistance that may be required.
“Partnering with Ethiopian Airlines was an easy choice given its long-distinguished history, over 70 years in aviation training and nearly 75 years as an airline,” said Captain Larry Wade, CEO of OxfordSaudia Flight Academy. “Not only is Ethiopian the largest airline in Africa, but it also owns one of the largest aviation training centers in the world with diversity that spans the entire airline job market including, flight training, maintenance training, cabin crew, commercial, ticketing, ground handling, and others.
“This MoU is the first step paving the way for concrete cooperation with OxfordSaudia Flight Academy in the area of Aviation Training in line with our strategic objective of forging a partnership with Aviation Training organizations in the region to further and promote mutual interests by sharing expertise, experience and best global practices in their respective areas of specialization or expertise “, said Mr. Solomon Debebe, Managing Director of Ethiopian Aviation Academy.
OxfordSaudia Flight Academy has received 12 brand-new aircraft out of the 60 aircraft on order as part of the purchase agreement signed with Diamond Aircraft Industries based in Austria, while 11 aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Dammam later this month.
About OxfordSaudia Flight Academy
Established in 2018 with its headquarters at the King Fahad International Airport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the academy has a long-term partnership with the global leader in the aviation training Oxford Aviation Academy based in the United Kingdom. OxfordSaudia was established to help address the significant regional shortage in aviation training. The center recognizes the skills of individuals in the region and the need to have a regionally based professional career path for qualifying students.
About Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy plus years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivaled in efficiency and operational success.
Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the Pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to 127 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.
Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that has seen it become the leading aviation group in Africa with seven Business Units: Ethiopian International Services; Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services; Ethiopian MRO Services; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian ADD Hub Ground Services, Ethiopian Express Services, and Ethiopian Airports.
Dubai, December 10, 2018 - The Saudi National Company of Aviation (SNCA), a CAE Authorized Training Center, has selected Diamond Aircraft twin DA42-VI and single DA40 NG for its training center. The agreement will compromise 60 airplanes over a five-year period. Delivery of the first 12 aircraft will start February 2019. The DA40 NG and the DA42-VI represent the newest versions of Diamond’s technology leading piston aircraft fleet, the first certified general aviation piston aircraft to combine modern technology airframes, avionics and power plants. The aircraft are equipped with efficient, clean and reliable jet-fuel piston Austro engines and Garmin G1000 NXi avionics systems, representing the very best of modern piston aircraft technology.
“We are proud to be SNCA’s choice of training aircraft for the establishment of their new flight training organization,” says Amila Spiegel, Sales & Marketing Director Diamond Aircraft Austria. “The commitment of another reputable big flight school to our airplanes and flight training solution proves we are meeting the demands of flight training organisations worldwide. We are the only manufacturer who offers a full range of modern, safe, efficient and reliable single and twin engine aircraft, along with proprietary jet-fuel piston engines and professional high fidelity Diamond Simulation flight training devices.”
“This purchase agreement is one of the largest in history of aviation academies in Saudi Arabia and perhaps the Middle East region. It also marks a new era of aviation training in The Kingdom which is well aligned with the Kingdom’s 2030 vision. SNCA is determined to provide the aviation industry with highly qualified male and female pilots who will be part of the development of our aviation industry and serve as an integral tool for development in the region. We have carefully selected Diamond aircraft because of their well-known reputation of safety and efficiency. We are confident that our choice of partnership with Diamond will guarantee our young trainee cadets the best possible learning experiences,” says Anthony Miller, director of global business Development at SNCA.
About SNCA
The Saudi National Company of Aviation (SNCA), a CAE Authorized Training Center, was established to provide high quality training for young cadets and equipping them with the latest methodologies using latest equipment. Saudi Arabia, specifically, and the Middle East region, in general, is facing a significant shortfall in airline pilots both now and in the immediate future. The academy aims at facing this shortfall by providing the Saudi and Gulf region with qualified pilots that, not only are highly qualified, but also meet the specific requirements for airlines in the region. The Center has already begun its operation in the Foundation Year program with an excess of 400 students; the first batch of young cadets is expected to complete the program and graduate in 2020.
At the 2017 Dubai Air Show, the Saudi National Company of Aviation (SNCA) and CAE announced a collaboration agreement for the creation of a CAE Authorized Training Centre in the region. Under the terms of the agreement, CAE will provide the authorized training center in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the key elements for world-class cadet training such as commercial pilot license curriculum and courseware, the training of staff and instructors, and safety and quality control systems. The new CAE Authorized Training Centre is funded by the Saudi National Company of Aviation (SNCA) and will be located at King Fahad International Airport, Dammam, in a dedicated 40,000 square meter site.
