The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has launched a long distance learning platform that allows students of the preparatory year at the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation to complete their studies under the supervision of the Basic Training Center. The provision by GACA of an electronic platform comes within its efforts to ensure the progress of the educational process in the academy within the precautionary measures to prevent the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19). Those benefiting from the services of the long distance learning platform are many students of the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation, which is currently working on completing the special scientific subjects in the preparatory year, which will continue for a period of five weeks. The Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation plays the main role towards qualifying and developing human cadres in the Kingdom's civil aviation industry. The academy provides all modern skills and techniques for developing and training workers in the field of air transport, as well as localization of the civil aviation sector and augment it with hundreds of Saudi youth qualified with the latest technologies to support various sectors in civil aviation. The Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation aims to be an essential asset in the development of aviation sciences at the international level, the localization of the technology of the civil aviation industry in the Kingdom. It aims to proceed with the implementation of approved plans to meet the needs of human cadres specializing in aviation sciences. This is in addition to the development of the staff performance level in the areas of air transport security and safety in accordance with international standards and in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. It also aims to be in the leadership position in the field of civil aviation training, and by having the lion's share in training and development at a regional level. Since the inception of the academy as a training institute in 1962, about 35,000 people have benefited from its services. They include workers in the aviation sector benefiting from short-term courses, as well as graduate students who have obtained academic diplomas. These students were trained and readied with the latest technologies to support the various aviation sectors in the Kingdom. The academy is working through its programs to fulfill the market needs with a workforce that are qualified and trained in the fields of — air control; maintenance of aviation systems; fire and rescue; airport safety and operation; airport security. The Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation has recently launched a Long Distance Training Platform for students of the English Language Diploma to complete their educational process without any interruption at the present time. As an achievement of its academic success, the academy was able to localize an industry that requires skills and high accuracy and contributed to the 100% Saudization of the air traffic control. Furthermore, it succeeded in the process of empowering Saudi women to work in the aviation sector, where it oversaw the graduation of two batches of female air traffic controllers. Those female Air Traffic Controllers have successfully finished their assigned training and become partners in ensuring the safety and smooth flow of air traffic in the Kingdom's skies. They have also completed the area control program with and without radar. The Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation managed during the last period to attain many achievements, distinguishing itself as one of the leading academies in the Middle East, and has obtained international recognitions from the largest international aviation organizations. It has been accorded recognitions by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). Furthermore, the ICAO has renewed the full membership of the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation in advanced air training program for ATC services, and also approved as an international training center for aviation security. The academy has won an award for the best software developer besides winning a training seat on the ICAO International Training Council. Meanwhile, the IATA accredited the Academy as a regional certified partner (RTP), as well as being an internationally accredited training center for ATC student, in addition to winning the award for (IATA) Best Training Partner in the Middle East. The Academy has recently won full membership in the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC), which enables the Academy to organize 11 international training programs. Saudi Arabia has a vital role in the field of civil aviation at the regional and international level. This is reflected on the growing demand for the civil aviation industry in the Kingdom. According to recent studies, the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom poses valuable investment opportunities, where IATA statistics confirmed the contribution of the civil aviation sector toward the Kingdom's Gross National Product by 5.6%, at a value of $ 36.5 billion in 2018 compared to $ 34 billion in 2014. The sector has also made available approximately 594,000 jobs in 2018, due to the prosperity experienced by the Kingdom and its geographic characteristic, linking three continents, which increases the growth opportunities in the field of air transport. — SPA
