Riyadh Air's first batch of Saudi female trainee aircraft engineers begin their diploma course.
The high school graduates are the first group of females to join the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Program as part of Vision 2030
Riyadh: Riyadh Air, the newly established national airline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has achieved a significant milestone by welcoming its first affiliate of 27 inspiring female trainees to become certified aircraft engineering technicians. The training will take over 30 months, while the airline will debut in 2025.
With a projected shortage of qualified maintenance workers in the years ahead, Riyadh Air recognizes the importance of tapping into the expanding talent pool of Saudi females interested in pursuing non-traditional roles in the aviation industry.
According to ICAO statistics, female aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians represent only 3.0% of the global workforce.
These women female engineers are studying under the supervision and guidance of Aviation Australia and the International Aviation Technical College at Riyadh Airport. This collaboration results from an MOU signed between Riyadh Air and the Colleges of Excellence in August 2023.
The selected female trainee engineers are Saudi high-school graduates with exceptional academic achievements.
The airline's strong commitment to inclusivity is demonstrated by the deliberate selection of females for its entire first cohort of trainee engineers, who will undergo apprenticeship training.
During a visit to the facility at Riyadh Airport, senior leaders from Riyadh Air, including CEO Tony Douglas, H.E. Mark Donovan (Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), and Engineer Ayman Abdullah (CEO of Colleges of Excellence), met with the trainee engineers.
Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, emphasized, "Riyadh Air aims to challenge stereotypes while embodying the modern, dynamic essence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Gender equality is a cornerstone of our business, and introducing young women to the technical aspects of our airline underscores our commitment to fulfilling the goals of Vision 2030.
"We are privileged to have our engineers as students at the International Aviation Technical College under the Colleges of Excellence umbrella and accredited by Aviation Australia, a prestigious global aviation institution. We fully expect these women to become integral leaders at Riyadh Air."
H.E. Mark Donovan, Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, remarked, "It was a pleasure to join Colleges of Excellence and Riyadh Air's CEO at the International Aviation Technical College to meet the first women enrolled in the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Program.
"This milestone is a significant step, and it is gratifying to see Australia's renowned education sector once again empowering women's economic participation as Saudi Arabia progresses with Vision 2030."
Engineer Ayman Abdullah, CEO of Colleges of Excellence, expressed pride in supporting this inaugural group of female trainees in aircraft maintenance engineering through the partnership with Riyadh Air.
The Colleges of Excellence are committed to nurturing Saudi women's national talents across various fields and providing suitable employment opportunities.