Saudi Air Traffic Controllers Go To Canada for Training

Thirty students from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have gone to Canada to train to become air traffic controllers as part of an agreement between Nav Canada and Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation. The students expect to complete all their required training at the Nav Centre, described by Nav Canada as its world-class training and conferencing facility in Cornwall, Ontario. Training lasts for about two academic years, at which time the students plan to seek qualification as controllers at air traffic control (ATC) facilities in their home country.

Classes started at the Nav Centre in late August. Coursework now concentrates on English-language instruction specifically designed to teach the students ICAO-standard proficiency in aviation English and in ATC phraseology.