Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) has recently launched the BAS Aircraft Engineering Training Centre, it was announced during a press conference yesterday (July 3rd 2006). The Centre will provide extensive premium quality training to qualify and license aspiring aircraft maintenance engineers, thus enabling them to certify Modern Civil Aircraft for fitness to fly.
"The aviation industry in the Middle East and Gulf region has been growing very rapidly, however this growth presents a deficit in the availability of qualified and experienced Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers," explained Mr. Graham Keddie, BAS Chief Executive Officer.
"It is well known that it takes four years to qualify an aircraft engineer, and an additional two years of intensive on the job practical experience to have a good and professionally disciplined Aircraft Maintenance Engineer: the workforce for the industry is considered to be below replacement level, which is said to be the result of a decade of inadequate training."
Providing a viable solution to this obstacle, BAS Aircraft Engineering Training Centre was the first Aviation training organization outside the European Union to attain the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 147 approval for aircraft type training and the 147 “Basic” aircraft maintenance engineering training approval. Furthermore it is the only EASA accredited aviation training organization in the Middle East and Asia permitted to offer Aircraft Engineering Training and Examinations. This highly recognized accreditation doubles as a major achievement for BAS and the Kingdom of Bahrain, which has a long-standing history for setting milestones in the aviation industry in the region.
Mr. Mahmood Al Balooshi, BAS Manager of Engineering Training, gave a presentation on the program elements, highlighting its emphasis on both theoretical and practical hands on training. Courses include: Aviation English, Mathematics, Physics, Electrical & Electronics Fundamentals, Digital Techniques, Materials and Hardware, Maintenance Practices, Basic Aerodynamics, Human Factors, Aviation Legislation, Turbine/Piston Aero plane Aerodynamics, Structures & Systems.
The EASA will issue an Aircraft Maintenance License PART 66 B1 or B2 to any individual who passes all Module examinations upon completion of training, and fulfils the required amount of work experience, which is 24 months.
A technical library, including internet access, and an information resources centre is available to students, in addition to specialist aircraft books and manuals for research and knowledge enhancement. Cafeteria and car park facilities are also available in the Training Centre area.
