Hamdan, while congratulating the students, confirmed that the General Authority of Civil Aviation continues to press on with its privatization programs, part of which is turning the Kingdom's airports into for-profit corporations. Al-Hamdan praised Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation (SACA) for its noteworthy role in training Saudi professionals. He made these statements as SACA celebrated the graduation of 203 students in Jeddah on Wednesday. Held at the Jeddah Hilton, the ceremony was attended by a number of employees of the academy, as well as the General Authority of Civil Aviation, which owns the academy and oversees the Kingdom's civil aviation sector. Graduates were certified in air traffic control, fire and rescue, aviation systems maintenance, airport safety, and air security. "It is with great pleasure that I meet with you here today to celebrate a new class of the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation, at which they accrued knowledge and knowhow, and trained on the best software that would empower them to work and operate in the world of aviation and air transportation, thanks to their freshly acquired skills that will guarantee them success and qualify them to join their colleagues in every facet of the world of flying," Hamdan said in a speech. "The efforts that you put in and the intensity with which you applied yourselves surely are commendable, which behooves you to always keep in mind that you are at the mere beginning of a very long path to professional success, and therefore your drive to gain even more experience and skill, regardless of which sector you end up working in, must never wane. "Aviation science and technology are two of the most dynamic disciplines ever, witnessing new developments almost every day. Hence, you must continue to learn, hone your skills, and work hard to keep up with the ever-changing technologies and whatever updates and upgrades that surely will emerge therein." Al-Hamdan confirmed that the privatization programs are in line with the successes seen in the world's most prominent airports. He said, "On this occasion, we must underline the fact that the world will always throw those who know less by the wayside. Hence, the sheer amount of effort you have put in at the academy should compel you to work hard, accomplish plenty, go above and beyond, and be vital to the success of the privatization programs, which will see our airports turned into corporations that run on the best business principles and the highest standards of service. "You must put the knowledge and capabilities you have earned at the disposal of our nation, for the sake of God first and foremost, and for the sake of achieving the visions and aspirations of our leaders. "The civil aviation sector is a promising one today, thanks to the benefits it has to offer, and the uninterrupted, unlimited support it enjoys from the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, out of the realization of just how vital this industry is to the economy and comprehensive development. As such, the authority laid out its own strategic plan to meet what is expected of it within the Saudi Vision 2030. "That includes the development of the Kingdom's network of airports, the expansion of activities, and the upgrading of services in every sector — all of which would guarantee employment opportunities for the graduates of this academy, whether directly through the authority's sectors and airports, or indirectly through the pertinent corporations that operate in the Kingdom." Fahd Al-Harbi, president of the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation, thanked the minister for attending the graduation ceremony, saying that his support further strengthens the graduates' drive to polish their skills and put their capabilities to maximum use in sincere, honest work, crowning the efforts they made while studying aviation academics for one, two, or three years, to become qualified to serve their nation. "The General Authority of Civil Aviation has always given national manpower and the development of their skills the utmost care, putting them at the forefront of their investments and priorities, because they are its true asset," said Al-Harbi. "This academy is the fruit of these efforts, and achievements that do us proud are quickly coming in. in 2016, the academy garnered no less than five global validations, beginning with the ICAO's renewal of the academy's membership of the advanced aviation training program. The academy also was endorsed as an international security training center. "IATA approved the academy as a partner and internationally recognized training center. Last but not least, the British International Leadership Management Institute approved the academy as a certified training supplier. But the academy won't just stop there; we have even greater ambitions in 2017!" Al-Harbi said that these global partnerships add credence to the academy's programs and certificates, enabling it to recruit even more students and civil aviation trainees. "These certifications are an acknowledgement of just how high of a standard our programs follow in terms of training, which directly impacts the efficiency and safety acumen of aviation personnel," he said. "Additionally, these partnerships provide the academy the impetus to conduct and develop some training packages, on top of granting it priority to host many internationally approved training courses much needed in the job market." These acclamations are simultaneous with quite a few records the academy had set since it was established as a technical training center. The academy supplied the civil aviation sector with 2,756 graduates with diplomas and high diplomas in air traffic control, fire and rescue, aviation systems maintenance, airport operation and safety, and air security. The academy's team trained and qualified more than 20,000 employees in advanced, on-the-job courses that aviation personnel and corporations, as well as other support industries, benefited from. — SG
