03 Dec 2007 | Ref. 378/2007
-
RSAF
Students graduate with flying colours
Langkawi, Malaysia - The first 22 Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Tornado Technicians to undertake a new ‘multi-skilled training programme’, based at the BAE Systems Training Solutions Technical Academy, Warton UK, have graduated with flying colours.
The programme, designed by BAE Systems in partnership with the RSAF, is aimed at producing multi-skilled aircraft technicians, rather than the RSAF’s traditional philosophy of having single skilled maintenance technicians.
The graduation ceremony was attended by senior RSAF and BAE Systems officials including Guests of Honour, Brigadier General Al Shaharani, Training Wing Commander, King Abdullah Aziz Airbase (KAAB) Dhahran and Mark Parkinson, Managing Director Training Solutions.
The 22 graduates have successfully undertaken 18 weeks training in the Technical Academy, which itself concludes an intensive training course. Before arriving at Warton, the students completed English language, Mathematics and Physics training at the Technical Studies Institute in Dhahran, followed by a further six-month English language course in the UK. They then undertook a one-year generic aircraft training course, at the UK’s Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering (DCAE) RAF Cosford, where they learnt the basic aircraft skills in their respective trades (airframe, propulsion, electrical, avionics).
The programme is aimed at producing multi-skilled aircraft technicians, rather than the RSAF’s traditional philosophy of having single skilled maintenance technicians. The 22 students, who graduated at the recent ceremony, are Airframe and Propulsion Technicians.
Chris Fairholm, Technical Academy Programme Manager, said: “The graduation marks the end of an extensive and challenging training experience. For all 22 students to graduate is a credit to their performance, commitment and attitude. The students have had to face the additional challenge of a new language, in a technical environment, culture and separation from their family as well as the learning of new skills and knowledge to perform safely and competently on advanced aircraft systems.”
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 96,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15 billion (US $27 billion) in 2006*.
*On a pro rata basis, assuming BAE Systems had owned Armor Holdings inc for the whole of 2006
For further information contact:
Paul Earnshaw, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1772 855572 Fax: +44 (0) 1772 856524
paul.h.earnshaw@baesystems.com
Scott Hailstone, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384725 Mob: +44 (0)7793 423068
scott.hailstone@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384605 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
www.baesystems.com
