RIYADH: An Australian company has begun training young Saudis as helicopter pilots after landing a $100 million five-year cooperation deal with Saudi Arabian National Guard.
Speaking about the first-of-its-kind agreement, which will open a new chapter in Saudi-Australian aviation cooperation, Michael Kavanagh, counselor (commercial) at the Australian Embassy, said he was pleased to see such a large contract awarded to Becker Helicopter Services in Maroochydore, Queensland.
The company, based at the Sunshine Coast airport, took in the first six Saudi trainees on its rolls this week. The 14-month course will include basic flying lessons through advanced military pilot training.
The University of the Sunshine Coast will teach the pilot trainees English language and aviation terminology.
“The Saudi students who have been enrolled to take up the training are young men keen to learn about things,” said a statement from the company.
The statement said 35 to 40 pilots will be trained each year at the Australian aviation school. It said the company had employed 10 specialist instructors, most of them ex-military pilots, and was doubling its fleet to 12 helicopters.
“About 6,600 Saudi students are currently residing in Australia,” Kavanagh said, adding that there are increasing opportunities for Saudis to study in niche areas, such as pilot training, mining and other tertiary fields as well as post-graduate courses.
