Bahrain is stepping up efforts to become a centre of pilot, cabin crew and engineering training for the Middle East.
Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA), formerly Gulf Air's in-house training centre, was formally launched under its new brand at the show, with a mission to train and export young Bahrainis as well as attracting foreign students.
The academy - which houses an Airbus A330/A340 and two A320 full-flight simulators - is acquiring a third A320 machine and signed at the show a deal with CAE for an Embraer 170/190 7000 Series simulator.
The contract replaces an earlier order for an Airbus A330/A340 machine and follows Gulf Air's decision to lease two E-170s in its first foray into regional jets. Like GAA, Gulf Air is owned by state holding company Mumtalakat, but GAA is now being run as a separate business from the airline.
GAA also plans to eventually launch its own ab initio flying school in the kingdom: its students currently learn to fly in the USA and at Oxford Aviation Academy in the UK. As a first stage, GAA expects UK approval for a ground school in Bahrain "shortly".
GAA's "primary objective is to train Bahraini nationals", says Mumtalakat chief executive Talal Al Zain, but the facility will be marketed at foreigners. "GAA will be the foundation for a bigger aviation and training industry, bringing economic benefits to the kingdom of Bahrain," he says.
The collapse of the four-nation shareholding behind Gulf Air left the Bahrain-based carrier bereft of its maintenance arm - the former Gulf Air Maintenance Company in Abu Dhabi, now renamed Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies.
After daliances with third-party suppliers, Mumtalakat is establishing a Bahrain-based maintenance, repair and overhaul business to service both Gulf Air and third party aircraft.
The facility, due to open at Bahrain's international airport in 2012, will be a joint venture between a new Mumtalakat division, Gulf Technics, and SIA Engineering (SIAEC) of Singapore. SIAEC has had the contract to service Gulf Air's 34-aircraft fleet since 2009 and operates a hangar in Bahrain, but with little scope to introduce third-party work.
Source: Flight International
