Modernisation of Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation

Thales has signed a contract worth 152 million riyals (approx. 30 million euros) with Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) for the development of the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation in Jeddah. The academy of the future will accept up to 500 trainees per year from 2010, with qualified instructors providing training in air traffic control, maintenance of civil aviation electronic systems, fire safety and airport security.

The academy is being modernised to insource these skills within the Kingdom by training young Saudis, and to meet the civil aviation training needs of other countries in the Middle East region.

Under this contract, Thales will organise training of instructors in these four areas, working in partnership with France's Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile (ENAC) for the air traffic control component.

Thales will also design training programmes incorporating the latest international standards (ICAO, NFPA, etc.) and provide dedicated resources, including simulators, computer-aided instruction tools and laboratory equipment.

Thales will also develop an information system for the school's management and distance learning facilities at Saudi Arabia's main airports, and will organise high-level seminars in partnership with international bodies to promote the development of this state-of-the-art facility.

Dr Mohammed A. Nowilati, President of the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation, commented: "We selected Thales for its recognised expertise in the field of training and are delighted to be working together to turn our plans for the Academy into reality."

Thales has been involved in the training of civil and military personnel for over 30 years and also develops the associated training tools. This latest contract further consolidates the company's leadership in this field.