Oman Air recently celebrated the graduation of its first batch of Omani cadets from the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) programme, an initiative it launched in 2018.

The event was marked with a ceremony held under the auspices of Nayef Al Abri, President of the Civil Aviation Authority Oman. The 11 cadets, whose training was held at the Oman Aviation Academy in Sohar in partnership with CAE Oxford, will now join Oman Air as Second Officers. Meanwhile, the remaining batches are still engaged in their training with the next batch anticipated to graduate towards the end of this year.

Committed to supporting Oman’s socio-economic development and empowering young Omanis, in the last few years Oman Air has ramped up its training and recruitment programmes. In conjunction with several government partnerships and to support its expanding operations, the airline has welcomed more than 260 Omani men and women into the company since 2022.

“Oman’s aviation sector is fast becoming a value engine of the country’s growth. Oman Air’s strategy reflects national priorities and as such, we continue to develop a sustainable, highly skilled workforce that can support the advancement of the sector, meet the demands of an ever-evolving industry, and fortify our contribution to Oman’s 2040 Vision,” said Captain Moosa Al Shidhani, Senior Vice President - Flight Operations at Oman Air.

“We are proud to have an exceptional team of world-class pilots and crew that includes many nationalities and are committed to ensuring they have access to a wealth of opportunities for both professional and personal growth. Together, we foster an environment that nurtures their talents and aspirations and supports Oman Air in our relentless pursuit of excellence.”

In addition to the ATPL programme, highlights of Oman Air’s latest training and recruitment initiatives include a partnership with The British School of Excellence and Muscat Hospitality Academy (MHA) for Preparatory Cabin Crew Training for Omani students. 63 students are currently enrolled in the programme.

Last November, the airline also launched ‘Future Leaders’, an intensive two-year commercial graduate training programme that is training 11 Omanis with internationally recognised qualifications and exposing them to all Oman Air’s commercial functions, after which they will be offered roles within the company.

Most recently, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, the airline launched an 18-month on-the-job intensive training programme and internship scheme for engineers, with 80 Omanis currently being trained in its Engineering department. A further 20 graduates are currently being recruited for its Call Centre, also in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour.

As the national carrier, Oman Air benefits from highly experienced and qualified Omanis throughout the company. To date, its overall Omanisation rate stands at approximately 75%, which is as high as 81% of pilots, 90% of engineers, 100% of male cabin crew, and 93% amongst the support functions. – TradeArabia News Service