Oman Air has committed 2 million riyals to staff training in 2013, having already invested more than OR 3.3 million over the previous two years.
In addition, Oman Air’s board of directors has approved plans to fund full scholarships for 100 employees, enabling them to improve their academic qualifications in a range of administrative and technical disciplines.
The initiative builds on existing training opportunities, such as Oman Air covering 75 percent of tuition fees on approved courses and offering unpaid study leave.
Each of the moves will be overseen by the Oman Air Training and Development Center, which is recognized internationally for its quality and has been named by IATA for the last two years as one of the Top Ten Training Centers in the Middle East.
Oman Air CEO Wayne Pearce said: “One of Oman Air’s greatest assets is its people and we are proud to be investing in increased training opportunities over the coming year.”
The CEO said: ““The training we have provided to staff over the last two years is already paying off, both for individual members of staff and for the company as a whole. To date, 26 candidates who have benefited from Oman Air’s funding have graduated from RMIT, one of Australia’s internationally approved aviation colleges, and are now undergoing practical training. In addition, we have funded an average of 10 trainee engineers per year through to full qualification, and are currently training 100 candidates as passenger service staff, 30 as ramp service staff and 30 as cargo service staff.”
Pearce said: ““Furthermore, we have 77 commercial pilot’s license holders working toward qualification as First Officers We now have staff placed at every level of Oman Air who have been assisted by the superb standard of training offered by our Training and Development Center. It is gratifying to see the invaluable contribution that graduates are making to the ongoing success of Oman Air and to the economic prosperity of Oman.”
The Oman Air Training and Development Center was established to improve the professional skills and academic qualifications of employees, and to develop and raise awareness of the latest developments within Oman Air and the broader aviation industry.
Over the last 20 years, it has developed an enviable reputation for delivering the highest standards of training, implementing a range of specialized training courses and working with acknowledged industry experts and training partners.
Its well qualified staff and outstanding facilities also make it a much sought-after venue for external organizations.
Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Zadjali, senior manager, Training and Development Center at Oman Air said: “With the invaluable support of Oman Air’s board and senior managers, the center has delivered a range of specialized international training programs that have provided career development for trainees and strengthened Oman Air’s staff teams.”
He said: “We have worked closely with every department within Oman Air to create training plans which support Oman Air’s commitment to providing services of the highest standard and offering customers an unbeatable passenger experience. We now look forward to building on our excellent track record by developing and implementing integrated training programs.”
