Saudi techs pass BAE Tornado course

LANGKAWI, Malaysia, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Saudi Air Force techs have passed a BAE Systems program to maintain Tornado combat aircraft.

"The first 22 Royal Saudi Air Force -- RSAF -- Tornado Technicians to undertake a new 'multi-skilled training program', based at the BAE Systems Training Solutions Technical Academy, Warton (in Britain), have graduated with flying colors," BAE Systems said in a statement Thursday.

"The program, designed by BAE Systems in partnership with the RSAF, is aimed at producing multi-skilled aircraft technicians, rather than the RSAF's traditional philosophy of having single skilled maintenance technicians," the company said.

"The graduation ceremony was attended by senior RSAF and BAE Systems officials including guests of honor, Brig. Gen. Al Shaharani, Training Wing Commander, King Abdullah Aziz Airbase -- KAAB -- Dhahran and Mark Parkinson, Managing Director Training Solutions," the company said.

"The 22 graduates have successfully undertaken 18 weeks training in the Technical Academy, which itself concludes an intensive training course. Before arriving at Warton, the students completed English language, mathematics and physics training at the Technical Studies Institute in Dhahran, followed by a further six-month English language course in (Britain). They then undertook a one-year generic aircraft training course, at the (British) Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering -- DCAE -- RAF Cosford, where they learnt the basic aircraft skills in their respective trades -- airframe, propulsion, electrical, avionics," Boeing said.

"The program is aimed at producing multi-skilled aircraft technicians, rather than the RSAF's traditional philosophy of having single skilled maintenance technicians. The 22 students, who graduated at the recent ceremony, are Airframe and Propulsion Technicians," the company said.

Chris Fairholm, Technical Academy program manager, said: "The graduation marks the end of an extensive and challenging training experience. For all 22 students to graduate is a credit to their performance, commitment and attitude. The students have had to face the additional challenge of a new language, in a technical environment, culture and separation from their family as well as the learning of new skills and knowledge to perform safely and competently on advanced aircraft systems."