On Sunday, September 17, 2023, Oxford Saudi Academy celebrated the graduates of the “Training Leading into Employment” program on their first day of work as flight instructors.
Graduates will begin their career path by training for a CFII - flight instructor license - within their contractual agreement, and after completing the training and being approved by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, they will be able to provide training to the new generations of students in Oxford’s aviation program.
Graduates are also allowed to join any job from any external entity if they wish and at any time, and the academy will cover the costs of type-rating training according to the operating system “SOP” for the airlines wishing to employ them, which increases their chances of joining airline companies and representing the nation’s graduates.
Congratulations to our students for this achievement, and we wish them continued progress and success.
By the sponsorship of HRH Prince Saud bin Naif, Governor of the Eastern Province, the graduation ceremony of the first batch of the “Training that Ends with Employment” program at the OxfordSaudia Flight Academy, which numbered 35 graduates for various licenses.
His Highness the Prince of the Eastern Province appreciated the efforts of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques HRH King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and the care of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to develop the Saudi human resources and empower it to contribute to building and developing the nation.
His Highness said, "We are all proud of the excellence of our sons and daughters in all fields. There is no doubt that the field of air transport is one of the most important fields that the leadership is keen to develop and invest in, by training the nation's youths and qualifying them to be able and qualified to enter this promising market" especially the pilot profession, which The labor market in the Kingdom is still in need of localization in light of the significant expansion of the transportation system in accordance with the national strategy for transport and logistics services, and in light of the expansion in the airports, the increased demand for air transport, and the establishment of modern airlines in the Kingdom.
The growth of aviation was a catalyst for OxfordSaudia.
The Board Chairman of OxfordSaudia Flight Academy, Colonel Othman Al-Mutairi, delivered a speech in which he expressed his thanks and appreciation to HRH, for his sponsorship of the students’ graduation ceremony, and his constant encouragement and support for them to become a productive member of society. Which led to a positive impact on the academy’s achievements and scientific outputs.
The Chairman stated that the rapid growth in the aviation sector was an essential motivator for the Academy to contribute to achieving the goals of the civil aviation sector emanating from the “National Civil Aviation Strategy” and the “National Transport and Logistics Services Strategy,” by working diligently to localize pilot professions; To meet the urgent market need, and raise the number of people joining this profession, including sons and daughters of the nation, pointing out the Academy’s keen on the quality of its outputs through advanced scientific curricula in partnership with Oxford Flight Academy, which demonstrate a collective experience of over 70 years in the aviation training industry.
Al-Mutairi explained that the Training Leading into Employment Program, which the academy provides to its students in partnership with Oxford International, with the support of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, enables graduates to obtain hundreds of job opportunities as flight instructors in one of the academy’s branches around the world, including the Dammam branch, stressing that the academy qualifies Its graduates enter the job market with the experience and flight hours required, at the hands of the academy’s experienced trainers who work according to Oxford standards and curricula for qualifying professional pilots in this field, and in accordance with the regulations and laws of the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors thanked the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and its branch in the region for the facilities they provided to support both the nationalization and the students in obtaining work contracts, he also thanked the Civil Aviation Authority for overcoming all difficulties, and all concerned parties in the region.
The academy's air fleet is the largest in the Middle East
Alumni Speech
After that, pilot Abdulaziz Al-Muhaimid gave the graduates’ speech, in which he expressed the graduates’ joy on their graduation day, which came as a culmination of years of hard work, diligence, struggle, and hard work in the pursuit of advancement and knowledge, especially in aviation training, aspiring to serve the religion, the king, and the nation, and to pass towards a bright and prosperous future in the aviation industry, to achieve the aspirations of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in the aviation sector.
Pilot Abdulaziz Al-Muhammed delivers the graduates’ speech.
For his part, the Director of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in the Eastern Region branch, Abdul Rahman bin Fahd Al-Muqbel, extended his thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Prince of the Eastern Region, for his continuous and unlimited support for the educational process in the region, and for his care and participation of the graduate pilots in their joy.
Al-Muqbel Emphasized the contribution of the Academy's Training Leading into Employment Program, in raising the level of participation of the nation’s young men and women in the job market and raising nationalization rates in the aviation sector in a way that ensures that young competencies are empowered with job opportunities as aviation instructors, he also emphasized on the importance of the program, which is to meet the government's aspirations and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, in order to create the future with conscious professional minds in the aviation sector, and that the program is based on linking the training outcomes to the educational, professional, developmental and economic needs of the community.
Al-Muqbil explained that the Ministry is keen on nationalizing the Profession and empowering the citizens by providing a package of incentives and support to private sector establishments in employing Saudis, and to benefit from all available nationalization support programs and support and employment programs through the Goal Fund, as the decision to nationalize licensed aviation professions aims to Provide more than 4,000 job opportunities in various specializations of the sector, and it comes in two stages, as the first stage began on March 15, 2023, with the nationalization of the professions of air traffic controller, air dispatcher, ground movement coordinator, and co-pilot, by 100%, and the profession of fixed-wing pilot. By 60%, and the profession of flight attendant by 50%. The second phase will begin on March 4, 2024, with the nationalization of the profession of fixed-wing pilot by 70%, and the profession of flight attendant by 60%.
The ceremony included a visual presentation about the academic journey of the graduates at the academy, and then concluded with taking group memorial photos.
All graduates of the batch who hold a commercial license also begin their job as pilot instructors at the academy. They have also begun training for a CFI license, a “flight instructor license,” with costs fully covered, as part of their contractual plan with OxfordSaudia Flight Academy for the “Flight Training Leading into Employment” program.
The partnership aims to meet China's demand for 10,000 pilots annually in the coming years.
OxfordSaudia flight academy continued achieving further cooperation with its partners in the People's Republic of China; This is after previous successful efforts in an agreement to train 1,000 Chinese students at the OxfordSaudia academy in the Kingdom, with a value
exceeding 350 million Saudi riyals in 2021.
Following that agreement, another announcement was made this month by both OxfordSaudia and YCATCO China - Shandong, signing an agreement to establish training centers to train the Chinese students at two locations in China, in order to provide pilots cadets to meet China’s future needs, with a training capacity of up to 4,000 students in the two locations.
The agreement sets a new precedent of its kind to the Saudi exports of the aviation and the education sectors, as it highlighted the role of the academy in the aviation education industry in China and in the domestic region, which increases opportunities of cooperation and exchange of experience and technology between the two countries, with an exponential development in creating an environment that attracts investments and creates job opportunities for young Saudi Arabian and Chinese men and women.
OxfordSaudia Academy aims to create attractive job opportunities for its fresh graduate students through its program "Flight Training Ending with Employment", by working as a flight instructor at its branches in Saudi Arabia, China, or other Oxford international academies that are compatible its regulatory structure and curricula. This partnership will also create up to 1,600 job opportunities for the Saudi graduates to join after graduation over a period of 3 years.
OxfordSaudia provides the branches with a fleet of aircraft, Saudi flight instructors, systems and curricula, and other support, while the Chinese side provides buildings, infrastructure, permits, and workforce.
The Chinese company YCATCO works in the professional human resources field, specifically in aviation talents, and intends with this partnership to employ its services and expertise, alongside with OxfordSaudia competencies in the operation and management of aviation academies, which demonstrated its effectiveness during and after the Covid-19 pandemic in operation recovery and performance improvement. The role of YCATCO also lies in signing the necessary government permits and requirements, as well as working on the procedures for commercial pilot licenses in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
The role of OxfordSaudia in the agreement is as a service provider and a strategic partner in managing the two sites and providing the necessary crew of Saudi flight instructors, which might reach up to 1,600 trainers, and a fleet of approximately 120 training aircraft, and more than 20 flight simulators. Its duties revolves around providing quality and safety management systems, operational processes, provision of Saudi flight instructors, curriculum development & maintenance, maintenance activities, IT infrastructure and assets, and a student selection process. Key position holders, management support and oversight, exchange of overflow training and education, and other tasks of the Saudi Oxford Academy’s specialization in the field of aviation education are also to be a focus.
Delivery of Airbus A320 7000XR and 600XR in 2nd half of 2021 with an additional 2 7000XR as an option. • Devices on order to receive EASA and FAA approvals as per contractual agreement.
OxfordSaudia Flight Academy is proud to announce the manufacturing of its Airbus A320 7000XR full-flight simulator (FFS) and one Airbus A320 600XR flight training device (FTD) for The Saudi National Company of Aviation is one month from delivery readiness. These devices will be installed in a new OxfordSaudia Flight Academy Facility in the Capitol City of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In November 2019, OxfordSaudia Flight Academy had previously announced the purchase of these devices and plans to set up a Training Organization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The training center will be managed & supported by OxfordSaudia Flight Academy’s expertise and guidance for the establishment of the training program including curriculum and courseware, hardware and maintenance support, the training of staff and instructors, as well as safety and quality control systems. Through this new center, OxfordSaudia Flight Academy will now provide training center operations services in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
"As OxfordSaudia Flight Academy the world-leader in commercial aviation pilot training, we come closer to the completion of this project and delivery of the devices, OxfordSaudia Flight Academy look forward to setting up this new Training Center in the Capital City of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia," said Captain Larry Wade, Chief Executive Officer, OxfordSaudia Flight Academy. "Since the announcement of the inception of our flight academy, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. We have witnessed tremendous demand for pilot training, stemming beyond Saudi Nationals. These are good success indicators as we are bringing world-class pilot training capabilities to the region. Our option, of two additional 7000XR devices, is to enable us to address the growing demand for recurrent and new training demands in the industry regionally. We have decided to put the OxfordSaudia Flight Academy Training Organization in Riyadh in order to better serve the airlines in the Kingdom.’’
OxfordSaudia Flight Academy is acquiring the Airbus A320 600XR flight training device (FTD) and Airbus A320 7000XR Series full-flight simulator (FFS) equipped with the innovative Tropos™ 6000XR visual system. The FTD and FFS will be delivered at OxfordSaudia Flight Academy’s training facility in the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the second half of 2021.
About OxfordSaudia Flight Academy
OxfordSaudia Flight Academy has established the center to help address the significant regional shortage in aviation training. The center recognizes the skills of individuals in the region and the need to have a regionally based professional career path for qualifying students. The Full Flight Simulator Training program is the second phase of development for the aviation center following on from the established OxfordSaudia Flight Academy.
OxfordSaudia Flight Academy is the branch of the global leader in training for the civil aviation, defense, and security backed by a record of more than 70 years of industry firsts, we continue to help define global training standards with our innovative virtual-to-live training solutions to make flying safer, maintain defense force readiness. We have the broadest global presence in the industry, with over 10,000 employees, 160 sites and training locations in over 35 countries. Each year, we train more than 220,000 civil and defense crewmembers, including more than 135,000 pilots.
OxfordSaudia Flight Academy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ethiopian Airlines Group to collaborate on aviation training services through its Ethiopian Aviation Academy, the largest and most modern Aviation Training Center in Africa. The agreement is aimed at exploring areas of cooperation in pilot training and other Aviation fields like Aircraft Maintenance, Cabin Crew, Commercial, Ground Operations, and Dispatch.
At its facilities established on the airside of the King Fahad International Airport in Dammam, the eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, OxfordSaudia currently has students enrolled to become pilots in the coming three years. With its current capabilities and training technologies, the OxfordSaudia Flight Academy aims to assist Ethiopian Airlines with its growing pilot needs in excess of its current capacity and
also, other technical assistance that may be required.
“Partnering with Ethiopian Airlines was an easy choice given its long-distinguished history, over 70 years in aviation training and nearly 75 years as an airline,” said Captain Larry Wade, CEO of OxfordSaudia Flight Academy. “Not only is Ethiopian the largest airline in Africa, but it also owns one of the largest aviation training centers in the world with diversity that spans the entire airline job market including, flight training, maintenance training, cabin crew, commercial, ticketing, ground handling, and others.
“This MoU is the first step paving the way for concrete cooperation with OxfordSaudia Flight Academy in the area of Aviation Training in line with our strategic objective of forging a partnership with Aviation Training organizations in the region to further and promote mutual interests by sharing expertise, experience and best global practices in their respective areas of specialization or expertise “, said Mr. Solomon Debebe, Managing Director of Ethiopian Aviation Academy.
OxfordSaudia Flight Academy has received 12 brand-new aircraft out of the 60 aircraft on order as part of the purchase agreement signed with Diamond Aircraft Industries based in Austria, while 11 aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Dammam later this month.
About OxfordSaudia Flight Academy
Established in 2018 with its headquarters at the King Fahad International Airport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the academy has a long-term partnership with the global leader in the aviation training Oxford Aviation Academy based in the United Kingdom. OxfordSaudia was established to help address the significant regional shortage in aviation training. The center recognizes the skills of individuals in the region and the need to have a regionally based professional career path for qualifying students.
About Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy plus years of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivaled in efficiency and operational success.
Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the Pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to 127 international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft.
Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that has seen it become the leading aviation group in Africa with seven Business Units: Ethiopian International Services; Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services; Ethiopian MRO Services; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian ADD Hub Ground Services, Ethiopian Express Services, and Ethiopian Airports.
