In keeping with the vision of the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies (GCAS) to advance expertise and knowledge in the aviation industry, a memorandum of understanding with the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) has been signed this morning by Mr. Mohammed Bulooki, GM of GCAS, and Mr. Ali Al Naqbi, Chairman of MEBAA.

This development is a further step towards the centre’s ambition to lead the aviation industry in the region towards world class standards in operation and management. Through this memorandum of understanding, GCAS, a GCAA and ICAO recognized centre, will expand its client’ network to include the niche market managed by MEBAA, to offer it internationally accredited programs certified by world leaders in aviation training such as JAATO and ACI.  Such initiative defends the centre’s emerging position as the leading Aviation training body for the Middle East and North Africa.

As part of the pioneering role of both parties, the memorandum of understanding encourages both the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies and the Middle East Business Aviation Association to form together a training committee, comprising one representative from each association, to identify and evaluate the needs of MEBAA’s partners and members, and the trainings offered to them. Furthermore, under the terms of this MoU, the centre will have access to all MEBAA’s events, trade shows, conferences, exhibitions and seminars to use as a platform to have its voice heard, and in return, MEBAA members will have a privileged rate to all GCAS courses.

Mohammed Al Bulooki, General Manager of Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies (GCAS) in ADAC, commented: “This partnership with MEBAA is another milestone for GCAS, as it will serve our goal in furthering the collective expertise and knowledge base in our industry and in our aim of providing training solutions for all key aviation organizations in the region. With this membership we will have access to a new base of governmental and aviation companies to further develop and expand our training programs. We can extend our services beyond the region.”

GCAS, a GCAA accredited centre, is the exclusive training provider for JAATO in the Gulf and Middle East region, and is the tenth certified training center to provide ACI courses, which attracted the attention of many aviation organisations from across the GCC. In addition, in June of this year the Department of Aviation Security & Infrastructure in the General Civil Aviation Authority awarded the Gulf Centre for Aviation Studies the certification to its facilities to provide civil aviation security courses, in line with the training guidelines legislated by the Civil Aviation Law of the United Arab Emirates.

In April 2010, GCAS signed an MoU with Kuwait Airways to exchange training expertise within the airline industry, subsequently following a previous partnership agreement with the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs department earlier this year.

GCAS has also announced last month the availability of Airport Management Professional Accreditation Program (AMPAP) and Airport Executive Leadership Program (AELP) training modules at its facilities, courses that were only available outside the region. As the premier aviation and airport training centre in the Middle East, it continues to promote international best practice in safety and security, and all other areas of airport operations. 

Ali Al Naqbi, Chairman of MEBAA commented: “Our aim has always been to be a bridge, a communication channel, for all involved to better the business aviation industry. We strongly believe in the role that GCAS has been playing in the region and trust that this memorandum of understanding will bring us all closer to our goals, and will be beneficial to all those who work in this industry.”

MEBAA is a non-profit association, with a major goal to achieve an effective means for communicating the concerns of Middle East business aviation operators and suppliers to government within the region, and thereby positively influencing government response. The Association is a forum for communicating the advantages of business aviation and the concerns of members with regional governments, with business leaders and with the media on matters affecting business aviation. Its governing principles focus on enhancing the safety, security, efficiency and acceptance of business aviation through the region. Members will share perspectives and best practices with other business aviation operators and world-class aviation associations, as well as gather useful industry data.