Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA), a fully owned subsidiary of Mumtalakat Holding Company, has selected the first batch of 20 Bahraini cadets to be accepted into its Cadet Pilot Training Programme.

An event was held at the Bahrain Business Incubator Centre to brief the cadets on the Ab-Initio (from the beginning) programme which is part of the process to gain the Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATPL), said a statement.

These cadets are the first of 100 Bahrainis who will have the opportunity to become a commercial pilot through a joint initiative of Mumtalakat, Bahrain Development Bank (BDB), Tamkeen (Labour Fund). The programme is run by the GAA.

Of the 20 selected cadets 25 per cent have completed a university degree, 50 per cent are currently university students while another 25 per cent have graduated from high school. The 18-year-old Khaled Ali Bubshait is the youngest cadet and the oldest is 29-year-old Ahmed Al Laith. There is one female, Fatima Younis Ali-Turabi, in the first batch of students.

Starting from October 1, 2009 the cadets will spend the majority of their time in Oxford, England to complete the internationally certified commercial pilot training programme. Once the two-year programme is complete, GAA will support the cadets in their job search both in Bahrain and across the region.

Talal Al Zain, CEO of Mumtalakat, said: “All of the institutions involved in this programme are extremely proud of the first batch of cadets selected. Aviation is a prestigious and exciting career choice and the GAA’s programme is enabling Bahrainis, who may have dreamt of this career, to take their first steps in achieving their ambition.

“Bahrain is working to become a regional centre for aviation.  Air transport infrastructure is of strategic importance to Bahrain due to the Kingdom’s geographical location and it will help drive economic growth for the country in the future.  The programme will help to supply the country’s future demand for Bahraini trained commercial pilots as it develops its air transport infrastructure,” he said.

Adnan Al Balushi, senior vice president, Banking Services, Bahrain Development Bank, said: “The BDB is working very closely with Mumtalakat and Tamkeen in order to help finance the training programme for these Bahraini graduates. This programme will be particularly important in meeting the increasing demand on the commercial aviation sector. We are proud to be a part of this, and other initiatives in Bahrain that support our young generation in achieving their goals and meeting their commitments.”

Abdulelah Al Qassimi, chief executive of Tamkeen, said: “The civil aviation sector is one of the fast-growing business areas in the world and the GCC and according to our Skills Gap Survey, there is an urgent need for trained nationals to work in this area as professionals – pilots, engineers etc. This first batch of Bahraini cadets who will go through a world-class pilot training course at GAA, represents the commitment of Tamkeen to structure training that responds to market needs and which will give Bahrainis new career opportunities, full of growth and promise.”

The programme will be managed by the Gulf Aviation Academy, which is the first aviation academy to be based in Bahrain. –TradeArabia News Service