Maintenance & Training

Saraya Skies the private aviation arm of Saray has appointed Bilal Yousuf as Managing Director and Ivan Tehaghapsao as Sales and Marketing Director.

Arab Wings, the first Middle Eastern corporate aviation operator and now aircraft management specialist is studying plans for a European acquisition as its owner embarks on an expansion strategy that includes new offshoots in Sharjah and Bahrain as well as an aviation university.

Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) announced today at EBACE that it has signed four new three-year contracts with customers from Europe, the Middle East and CIS.

Qatar will need 1,200 pilots by 2013 said Amit Agarwal, chief executive of the US-based Supreme Aviation Worldwide speaking at a seminar in Doha.

Gregory Olympios has been appointed regional sales director for Southeastern Europe and Middle East for Jet Aviation's MRO businesses.

Project Phoenix, the Dubai-based Bombardier CRJ-200 executive VIP conversion specialist, has brought in a well known industry specialist to boost its sales team.

Alenia Aermacchi has received certification for the M-346 Master which was selected by the UAE air force in February as its jet trainer.

Dubai-based carrier Emirates has announced that 35 UAE Nationals have graduated from the Emirates airline National Cadet Pilot Programme today, doubling last year's graduate figures.

Wataniya Airways has announced David Evans as chief commercial officer, bringing over thirty years of international expertise and experience to the airline.

Thales has unveiled a new integrated training package for future training and simulation needs. The New Reality package includes a full-motion flight simulator called RealitySeven - so called because Level Seven is the new Level D, and highest level of simulation available.

Delegates at the Hawk User Group meeting in Muscat are believed to have been shown a new upgrade package for current users of the BAE Systems jet trainer.

Etihad's cargo arm Crystal Cargo has strengthened its UAE and Middle Eastern sales team with two new appointments.

As airlines around the world shrink capacity in response to the global economic downturn, the need for maintenance is reduced, but Lufthansa Technik said it is well-positioned to manage the decline and hopes to do so without cutting its workforce.

Dubai-based carrier Emirates has added new members to its senior management team furthering its commitment to recruit more UAE nationals into its workforce.

Lufthansa Technik opened a €60 million ($80.9 million) MRO facility at its LHT Malta subsidiary Saturday after only 18 months of construction.

CAE has signed a contract with Emirates-CAE Flight Training (ECFT) for the purchase of a CAE 7000 Series Airbus A320 FFS. ECFT will then lease the simulator to the new CAE Bangalore training centre in India. The CAE Bangalore training centre currently operates two CAE 7000 Series FFSs: one Airbus A320 and one Boeing 737NG.

Etihad Airways has appointed Ray Gammell to the position of chief people and performance officer and Jim Callaghan as general counsel and executive vice president legal.

The first of the true VLJ air taxi aircraft - The Eclipse 500 - has been thrown a lifeline with the formation of yet another company to acquire and operate the assets of the failed business jet programme

Emirates has announced the appointment of Khalid bel Jaflah as vice president Commercial for UAE to further develop the company's operations in the country.

European private aviation company, Vistajet has appointed Dr Elias Maroun as Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing, Middle East.

UAE based luxury charter operator Royal Jet, has opened a new charter brokerage service based in Dubai to source appropriate aircraft for charter through a network of carefully audited operators.

Etihad Crystal Cargo has appointed Albert Soliman as the airline's new regional cargo sales manager for the Middle East and Africa.

Jet Aviation's global staffing company Jet Professionals has appointed Hani Farag as managing director for its non-US activities.

"The strength of our airline lies not in our aircraft or commercial assets but in the people who help run it," said Marwan Boodai, chairman.

Abu Dhabi-based executive aviation company, Royal Jet, is demonstrating its commitment to Emiratisation by participating in Tawdheef 2009 - the main forum in the Abu Dhabi Emirate for recruitment, Emiratisation and related training.