The new national airline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Air, has taken another significant step on its road to its first flight in 2025 with the first intake of 27 pioneering females who commenced their 30-month diploma course on their path to become certified aircraft engineering technicians.
In a groundbreaking move and a first for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, female engineers will study under the supervision and guidance of Aviation Australia and the International Aviation Technical College at Riyadh Airport, this follows an MOU signed between Riyadh Air and the Colleges of Excellence in August 2023 and is the first collaboration of many between the organisations.
These budding engineers are all Saudi high-school graduates with impressive GPAs and were chosen from thousands of applicants who wished to be part of the Riyadh Air story as it moves towards future operations. Riyadh Air has specifically chosen females for its entire first intake of trainee engineers to be placed on the apprenticeship program.
Mr. Douglas says: ” We are fortunate that our engineers are students at the International Aviation technical College under the Colleges of Excellence banner and accredited by Aviation Australia, one of the most prestigious global aviation schools and we fully expect these ladies to be part of the future leadership of Riyadh Air.”
Senior leaders from Riyadh Air including CEO, Tony Douglas, Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HE Mark Donovan, and CEO of Colleges of Excellence, Engineer Ajman Abdullah, met with the trainee engineers during a visit to the facility at Riyadh Airport.
Female aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians currently account for only 3.0% (*ICAO Statistics) of the worldwide workforce. With a shortfall of qualified maintenance workers expected in the coming years, Riyadh Air is harnessing an expanding talent pool of Saudi females who are keen to enter non-traditional roles in the industry.
