Eighteen of Gulf Air’s brightest trainee engineers, 11 Bahrainis and seven Omanis, who are undergoing intensive training in Australia, are well on their way to becoming full fledged aircraft engineers.
Recruited under the Gulf nationals engineering programme, the trainees who left Bahrain last November for their 18-month training stint with Australia Aviation, Brisbane, have successfully completed two phases of their modular training i.e. Module-6 on Aircraft Material & Hardware and M-7 on Aircraft maintenance Practices and appeared for an EASA Part 66 modular exam.
"We find the training a rewarding and enriching experience," says Eman Mandeel, a Bahraini and the only lady candidate in the programme.
"We are exposed to basic workshop training from an aviation perspective. For example, our training included practicing fabrication of a formed wing box section, secured with rivets starting off with a plain aluminium sheet."
The trainees are exceptionally good and promising, says Gulf Air Technical Training and Development Manager Tim De Alwis. All have passed their exams with the majority scoring over 90 per cent.
"These exams, coupled with practical experience on aircraft maintenance, leads them to obtain their Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Licence," adds Mr Alwis.
The students are supervised by experienced instructors, who closely monitor their academic and practical performance.
The current batch is scheduled to complete their training in May 2007 after which they will return to Bahrain to begin their two years hands-on training on aircraft maintenance and repairs on GF aircraft.
Gulf nationals engineering programme
The Gulf nationals engineering programme provides young school leavers and university graduates with access to a respected and established career as a licensed aircraft engineer. The programme totals a five year investment including classroom, on the job training and relevant work experience to meet the assessment requirements for an EASA Part66 accreditation. These young Gulf nationals complete the programme with a globally recognised accreditation.
Australia Aviation
Australia Aviation is an EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) Regulation Part 147 approved training facility, established by the Queensland Government to support the development and growth of the aviation and aerospace industries in the Asia Pacific region. It has, in recent years, increasingly extended into the Middle East.
About Gulf Air
Founded in 1950, Gulf Air, owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman, is the only truly Pan Gulf carrier in the Middle East region.
The regional, geographic and cultural values that the airline has embraced over more than half a century are still central to defining its brand and service ethos.
Today the airline’s network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 50 cities in 30 countries. The fleet comprises 34 aircraft and has the distinct advantage of possessing the strongest network across the Middle East.
A platform for sustained commercial operation has been established over the past three years as part of a multi-phased turnaround programme. It has also provided a framework for a succession of innovative products and services including the unique Sky Chefs and Sky Nannies that form part of Gulf Air’s ’smart airline, successful business’ vision.
International recognition has been achieved as a result of the turnaround programme leading to numerous awards for the airline’s innovative and high quality products and services: These include:
• Best Onboard Catering in First and Business Class (Skytrax World Airline Catering Awards 2005)
• Best designed in-flight magazine (American Creativity Awards,2005)
• Middle East Leading First Class Airline (World Travel Awards 2005)
• World’s Leading Airport Lounge (World Travel Awards 2005)
• Middle East & North African Platinum Best Airline (MENA Travel Awards 2004
• Most Improved Airline (Skytrax Awards 2004)
• Middle East First Class Airline (Arabian Business Awards)
• Best new product launch for in-flight services (PAX international Readership Awards)
• Best First Class Onboard Food (Skytrax Food Category 2004)
• Best Business Class Check-in (Skytrax Check-in Category 2004)
• Middle East region’s best airport restaurant for its restaurant in Bahrain International Airport lounge (PAX International Readership Awards 2005)
Official Airline and Sponsor of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2007
