Manama, Jan. 14
Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator and managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), signed an agreement with Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA) to provide civil aviation security training to hundreds of airport-stationed Ministry of Interior (MOI) personnel each year.
The officials, who will serve in airport police and customs roles, will be needed to accommodate the expanded security requirements the airport’s New Passenger Terminal.
The agreement was signed by BAC CEO, Mohamed Yousif Albinfalah; Ministry of Interior Director of Airport Customs, Lt. Colonel Rashid Yahya Al Baker; Acting Head of Operations Division Captain Khalifa Abdulaziz Zaman; and GAA CEO Dhaffer Al Abbasi.
The signing took place in the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Transportation & Telecommunications and BAC Chairman Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed.
The courses supplement MOI’s comprehensive training programs by covering international-level BIA-specific Aviation Security requirements so that personnel deployed at the airport have the necessary training and skills to identify and respond to threats and risks aimed at civil aviation.
“In the spirit of partnership and teamwork, BAC is pleased to enter into this tripartite arrangement with MOI Airport Police, Customs Affairs and Gulf Aviation Academy to support aviation security training at BIA,” Al Binfalah said.
“We believe it will achieve the shared objectives of all the parties concerned in elevating the airport’s response to a never-ending risk environment and are proud of this partnership as a model example of Team Bahrain working towards achieving a single vision for Bahrain’s new gateway to the world,” he added
“We are honored by the continued trust from our partners and will work with them to ensure that the highest level of trained personnel will be deployed at the airport. We will be providing the latest training programs and methodologies aimed at addressing the ever-evolving safety and security challenges of the aviation industry,” Al Abbasi said.
The signed agreement includes modules related to Aviation Security Basics for entry-level airport security personnel; a Certification Program for x-ray screeners; a Security course covering securing cargo and mail against acts of unlawful interference; National Aviation Security Instructor’s training designed for the management and instruction of aviation security personnel; and a National Aviation Security Inspector’s course, covering aviation security quality control measures.
One of the most ambitious projects in the Kingdom’s history, the New Passenger Terminal will increase BIA’s capacity to 14 million passengers and 130,000 air traffic movements per year.
The number of airlines and cargo companies operating out of BIA is also expected to grow.
The expansion will benefit from GAA’s comprehensive range of high-quality training programs, including courses for pilots, engineers, cabin crew, and Airport ground personnel. GAA’s training facility, located at BIA, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and offers internationally licensed training courses and the use of the most advanced simulators.
