The first program seeking to qualify girls to work in air control was launched in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. As many as 12 Saudi girls began the training program, which is supposed to end with their recruitment by the Saudi Air Navigation Services Company.

The program is being run in cooperation with the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation and is part of an initiative to open new avenues for Saudi women.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the program is designed to last a full academic year following which women will receive a graduation certificate from the Saudi Academy of Air Control. They will be employed by the company after graduation.

Chief Executive Officer of the Air Navigation Services, Engineer Ryan Tarabzouni, said that the company places great importance on employment of young women in the profession as part of Saudi Vision 2030.

According to him, this is part of the process to support Saudi women and enable them to work in different positions and enhance their contribution to the society by working in various segments of the Saudi labor market.

Tarabzouni pointed out that the program has the assistance and follow-up of Abdul Hakim bin Mohammed Al Tamimi, Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation.

Immediate employment

Tarabzouni said that the company will provide all kinds of support to Saudi girls till they start their work as air controller.

He pointed out that graduates of the first batch of the program will be employed immediately after their graduation in the air control centers in Jeddah and Riyadh. A second session of training will be announced later.

The Saudi Civil Aviation Academy, which implemented the program, is a specialized academy accredited by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) with seven international accreditations.

The Air Surveillance Program provides physics and mathematics courses as well as air language classes along with air control courses, a tower control course, and a practical application program that includes an international guided tour of the cabin, flight phases and hands-on simulation training, as well as workshops and orientation visits.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation is among the entities that have enabled women to work in the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom, and Saudi women play a major role in the in the Authority’s licensing procedures for airlines.

The Authority is keen to enhance the participation of Saudi women in the labor market and to provide equal opportunities for all citizens.

Source english.alarabiya.net