Aircraft manufacturer Boeing has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) to establish an aviation research center.
The new facility will be used to help train aviation experts and to conduct research in both aerospace and defense, Arabian Business quoted the Saudi Gazette as saying.
“The center will enhance the relationship between both organizations, and will contribute to the integration of cadres and national capacities,” KACST president Mohammed Ibrahim Al Suwaiyel said.
“The modeling tools, simulation and advanced analysis will help to explore and understand the implications of proposed regulations within the interactive environment.”
Boeing’s Saudi president Ahmed Jazzar said the kingdom was a key partner for Boeing.
“We are honored to partner with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology on this important milestone for our organization and we remain committed to supporting the Kingdom in the development of its aerospace industry.”
The center is one of five setup by Boeing around the world. The others are in Australia, India, South Korea and the UK.
New Pilots
Boeing said recently that the Middle East will need to recruit 55,000 new pilots over the next 20 years.
The company’s 2014 Pilot and Technician Outlook also forecast that a further 62,000 technicians will be needed in the region as airline fleets continue to grow.The report said the Middle East region in particular has seen significant growth since last year’s outlook due to “increased airline capacity and orders for wide-body models which require more crew members”.
Globally, Boeing said it is forecasting continued strong growth in demand for commercial aviation pilots and maintenance technicians, projecting that between 2014 and 2033, the world’s aviation system will require 533,000 new commercial airline pilots and 584,000 new maintenance technicians.
