New Aircraft, Sims Arrive In Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Aviation Flight Academy (SAFA), has taken delivery of its first two training aircraft from Diamond Aircraft Industries. The two DA40 NG trainers arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 11 October.

(L-R) Christian Dries, Khaled Alghamd

These trainers are the first batch of a total of 20 training aircraft and 12 Technically Advanced Flight Training Devices (aka simulators) that Al-Thumamah Airport-based SAFA has agreed to purchase and will form the foundation for SAFA’s advanced approach to pilot training. The equipment will play a key role in supporting SAFA’s objective to develop pilots who not only possess superior “stick and rudder” skills, but are immersed in a strong safety culture as well. The state-of-the-art curriculum has been developed using international experts with the ultimate goal of supporting the growth of aviation in the Kingdom.

The Flight Academy is a joint venture between the Saudi Aviation Club (SAC),whose Chairman is HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin AbdulAziz, and SAFA, chaired by HRH Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal.

“The engines have been started and we are now preparing for the take-off of our project, which will produce locally trained, high-quality Saudi pilots for the the Kingdom’s aviation sector”, commented Captain William Roe, Managing Director of SAFA. Captain Roe also elaborated that “Each air-conditioned aircraft will feature GPS tracking units to precisely follow the fleet in real time to add additional safety. Also, each aircraft will be equipped with video/audio recording equipment, which enables students to learn to fly more efficiently while reducing training costs, and ultimately develop their aeronautical decision making skills as quickly as possible. This re

Photo Courtesy Diamond Aircraft

duces the occurrence of human errors, which plays the primary role in aviation accidents globally.”

“One of the pillars which define the relationship between SAC and SAFA is our combined belief that safety is paramount. We also move forward in the firm belief that discipline is one of the most important characteristics of a superior pilot”, said Abdullah al-Jawini, Executive Director of SAC. 

SAFA will receive another twelve DA40 NG single-engine trainers over the coming five years. The school is also expecting to receive another six training aircraft, the DA42 NG, which is arguably the most technologically advanced multi-engine training aircraft available in the market today. SAFA will start taking delivery of the DA42 NG aircraft in May 2011.

By the end of 2015, SAFA will boast a total fleet of fourteen DA40 NGs, six DA42 NGs, and 12 Technologically Advanced Flight Training Devices.

FMI: www.saflightacademy.com, www.diamond-air.at