Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA), Bahrain's first aviation training academy, has been approved as a Type Rating Training Organisation (TRTO) by the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs (BCAA) and the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) to operate as a TRTO for conducting Type Rating training programmes that are required by pilots to operate different aircraft types.

Sir Maurice Flanagan KBE BA Hon.FRAeS FCILT, Executive Vice Chairman of Emirates Airline & Group, has been awarded The Guild Award of Honour by The Guild of Air Pilots & Air Navigators (GAPAN) in recognition of his `unsurpassed achievements in the airline industry and outstanding lifetime contribution to aviation`.

Tony Smith has joined Sharjah Aviation Services as General Manager.

Gore Design Completions which is well known in the Middle East for its extensive experience in head-of-state and VVIP aircraft has announced a new organizational structure and leadership appointments.

Bahrain Airport Services Aircraft Engineering Training Centre (BAETC) has appointed international services company Serco, to improve training policy and procedures, facilities, increase performance and install best-practice to BAETC.

Saudi Aviation Flight Academy has officially taken delivery of its first two Diamond DA40 NG training aircraft from Diamond Aircraft in Austria and staff from the academy have successfully flown the aircraft back to Jeddah.

BAE Systems has strengthened its office in Qatar with a series of key appointments.

Piper Aircraft which features a range of general aviation aircraft and soon will have a Very Light Jet on the market is stepping up its marketing to attract Middle Eastern and African business