Story ID: 397E
Saudi Academy Orders 60 Diamond Trainers
By: James Wynbrandt
Caption: Saudi-CAE training center announced last year to take Diamond single- and twin-engine aircraft for flight instruction.
Word Count: 309
Diamond Aircraft announced at MEBAA 2018 a contract for 60 single- and twin-engine trainers from the SNCA-CAE Authorized Training Centre in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The DA40 NG singles and DA42-VI twin-engine aircraft will be delivered over five years, commencing with the first batch of 12 in February.

Plans to establish the SNCA-CAE Authorized Training Centre (SNCA-CAE), a collaboration between the Saudi National Company of Aviation (SNCA) and Canadian training provider CAE, were announced at the Dubai Airshow 2017.

“We are proud to be SNCA-CAE Authorized Training Centre’s choice of training aircraft for the establishment of their new flight training organization," said Amila Spiegel, sales and marketing director for Diamond. “The commitment of another reputable big flight school to our airplanes and flight training solution proves we are meeting the demands of flight training organizations worldwide.”

SNCA-CAE chose the Diamond trainers “because of their well-known reputation of safety and efficiency,” said Anthony Miller, director of global business development at SNCA-CAE.

The DA40 NG and DA42-VI represent the newest versions of the Austrian company’s piston aircraft fleet, which combine composite airframes, Garmin G1000 NXi glass panel avionics, and modern jet-fuel (diesel) piston powerplants from Diamond-owned Austro engines. 

“This purchase agreement is one of the largest in the history of aviation academies in Saudi Arabia and perhaps the Middle East region,” said Miller. “We at SNCA-CAE Authorized Training Centre are determined to provide the aviation industry with the highly qualified male and female pilots that are able to advance within the aviation industry and serve as an integral tool for development in the region.”

The training center has already begun operations in its Foundation Year program, with more than 400 students attending. The first class of air cadets is expected to complete the program and graduate in 2020.
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