Saudia Academy has taken a significant step toward becoming Leonardo Helicopters’ Authorized Training Centre (ATC) in the Middle East through a strategic partnership with Leonardo Helicopters, marking the launch of a structured global accreditation pathway that strengthens regional aviation capabilities.
This milestone represents a landmark regional achievement and reflects the Academy’s commitment to delivering world-class helicopter aviation training aligned with the highest international standards adopted across Leonardo’s global training academies.
The partnership is based on a formal agreement that initiates a phased qualification process, through which Saudia Academy will progressively align its training systems, infrastructure, and delivery methodologies with Leonardo Helicopters’ authorized training requirements. All training activities will be conducted under the supervision of relevant regulatory authorities, ensuring full compliance with local and international aviation regulations.
Training programs will be delivered using standardized Leonardo-approved curricula, supported by advanced training technologies and modern instructional methodologies, and led by Leonardo-certified instructors, ensuring consistency, quality, and global recognition.
This initiative significantly enhances specialized rotary-wing aviation training in the region by supporting national talent development, improving workforce readiness, enabling effective knowledge transfer, and strengthening aviation safety and operational excellence.
The partnership further reinforces Saudia Academy’s role in supporting national strategic objectives related to the advancement of the aviation and logistics sectors, the localization of global expertise, and the elevation of professional competencies in line with international best practices.
Through this collaboration, Saudia Academy positions itself as a future regional hub for internationally accredited helicopter aviation training, contributing to the long-term growth, sustainability, and global integration of the Middle East aviation sector.
Saudia Academy, also known as Prince Sultan Aviation Academy (PSAA), is an aviation training provider delivering flight simulators and aviation services in the MENA region.
Armed with a team of skilled trainers and state-of-the-art training equipment and facilities, the Prince Sultan Aviation Academy (PSAA) offers a wide spectrum of aviation training and services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in the MENA region.
PSAA is the oldest commercial training center in the Middle East with a proud legacy in quality and safety. PSAA’s story began in 1959, with limited resources as Saudia Pilot Training School was established.
Over the years, it steadily evolved and in the late seventies expanded into Flight Training Centre in 1979, a comprehensive training facility to school Saudi Arabian Airlines staff and train them as skilled flight operations personnel.
On 3rd of December 2004, this progressive institution was inaugurated by the late Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, and was renamed “Prince Sultan Aviation Academy” PSAA. On the 7th of April 2010, the redefinition as an independent Business Strategic Unit (SBU) for the Saudia Group took place.
The PSAA endeavors to promote full spectrum aviation training in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reaches out to the Middle East and North Africa region and to the rest of world with a commitment of competitive services.
Equipped with the latest aviation technology, the PSAA main training complex is located at King Abdulaziz Road, Al Khalidiya District, Saudia City in Jeddah, and its Technical Training building is located at Al Rowais District Jeddah.
Leonardo Helicopters is a global leader in vertical lift, delivering advanced, mission-ready helicopters for civil and military operations. Driven by innovation and engineering excellence, the company continuously strives to deliver ever safer, smarter, and more sustainable solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers worldwide.
Leonarod Helicopters’ versatile portfolio spans from 3-tonne class single-engine types to the 16-tonne, three-engine AW101, including tiltrotors and remotely piloted systems, designed to perform a wide range of missions that support communities across all domains.
