JEDDAH, 28 August 2006 — The Saudi Aviation Club (SAC) plans to establish two flight schools — one in the west and the other in the east — and expand skydiving and other recreational aviation activities throughout the country.
“Building and operating the first flight school in Thumama Airport, north of Riyadh, is the organization’s present task,” an official SAC statement said.
Future projects include operation of Rabigh Airport in coordination with the General Authority for Civil Aviation and developing flight schools into aviation academies offering four-year college degrees. “We also intend to carry out air-taxi operations after obtaining required approvals,” the statement said.
SAC was established in 2000 to promote and encourage the practice of personal, recreational and sports aviation activities, ensuring the highest standards of security and safety. The club offers the public the opportunity to learn and practice solo flying, gliding, paragliding, and radio-controlled model airplanes.
“Our flight schools will provide pilot training to any person interested in becoming a professional pilot, or who would like to learn flying as a hobby,” said Prince Sultan ibn Salman, chairman of the club.
The flight school will issue private, commercial, or airline transport pilot licenses with instrument and multi-engine ratings. It will be authorized to offer refresher courses for pilot license holders of other countries desiring to fly in the Kingdom.
Riyadh Governor Prince Salman laid the cornerstone for the first flight school in Thumama earlier this year. The school was the brainchild of Prince Sultan ibn Salman, who is also secretary-general of the Supreme Commission for Tourism.
The aviation club has been working closely with security and air traffic control organizations to allow members of the public to qualify at the school and fly over Saudi Arabia. “We have been discussing practical areas such as security, air corridors etc. to allow safe flying,” Sultan said.
Crown Prince Sultan recently approved the club’s board of directors that include eight members from the private sector. The club is looking to the private sector for support in carrying out activities that have the potential to develop into profitable tourist attractions.
The board members are Prince Bandar ibn Saud, chairman of the board of trustees of Prince Sultan Tourism Science College, Prince Bandar ibn Khaled Al-Faisal, vice chairman of the Tourism Promotion Committee in the Asir Region, Prince Turki ibn Abdullah, Bakr Binladen, Khaled Al-Saif, Saad Al-Waalan, Fahd Al-Athel, Abdullah Kamel, Hassan Al-Qabani, Khaled Al-Qahtani, and Ahmad Al-Abdullateef. Dr. Emad Shaker is the club’s executive director and secretary of the board.
