Sky Prime signs engineering and training deal with Etihad

Saudi Arabia’s Sky Prime, the largest private aviation operator in the Middle East, has signed contracts to collaborate with Etihad Aviation Group’s engineering and aviation training divisions.
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The agreements were announced at the Saudi Airshow today.
Etihad Airways Engineering (EAE) is exhibiting its extensive maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities at the event, including the new Airbus A350 maintenance services announced earlier this week.
The new agreement with Sky Prime gives EAE another major customer in its VIP aircraft maintenance portfolio. The agreement allows the two companies to collaborate in several areas, from heavy maintenance to cabin modification support, including Part 21J and Part 21G engineering services.
Under the new agreement, EAE has already delivered C-checks and cabin repairs to two VIP aircraft in Sky Prime’s fleet at its MRO facility in Abu Dhabi. Additional projects are planned over the coming months that will see the engineering team deliver a wide range of engineering solutions to Sky Prime.
“Our team enjoys a strong reputation in the international market for expertise and experience on major commercial aircraft platforms,” said Abdul Khaliq Saeed, EAE’s CEO.
“While we have been supporting luxury aviation operators locally for many years, we are now expanding our services to the VIP aviation sector across the region and beyond. Our partnership with Sky Prime is a perfect example of this expanded scope.”
Meanwhile, Etihad Aviation Training (EAT) will for the first time collaborate with a partner in Saudi Arabia, after its agreement with Sky Prime.
As part of the agreement, Riyadh-based Sky Prime will dry- and wet-lease EAT’s full-flight simulators (FFS) at Zayed Campus, Etihad’s training facility in Abu Dhabi. Training will be conducted by both Etihad and Sky Prime instructors.
“EAT is looking forward to welcoming Sky Prime instructors and pilots to conduct Airbus A320, A340 and Boeing 777 and 787 training at Zayed Campus,” EAT’s director, Paolo La Cava said. “Last year was a strong year following EAT’s relaunch and we anticipate an even stronger 2019 with Sky Prime as our first Saudi Arabian partner.”
As part of the agreement, crew resource management training will be conducted by EAT trainers for Sky Prime’s pilots and cabin crew. Cabin crew will also receive recurrent training with EAT’s cabin safety trainers.

 

 

 

Sky Prime and Etihad Airways cabin crew and pilots with Sky Prime’s Captain Mamdooh Mokhtar, Chief Executive Officer and Turki Al-Otaibi, VP Support Services and Sales and Paolo La Cava, Director, Etihad Aviation Training partners with Sky Prime for pilot and cabin crew training.