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IN A PERFECT example of the changing fortunes of the financial sector following the world recession a promising banking student has decided to steer away from the profession and has chosen a different path to success.
Banking and finance diploma holder Fatima Younis Ali Al Turabi, the only woman candidate selected for a new pilot training programme, said that she is looking forward to taking up a new challenging career.
The 20-year-old said: "The banking industry is not doing very well and in my opinion this field has more prospects and seems a more promising career. To be a pilot one needs to multi-function, be focussed and be very serious as we have people's lives in our hands."
Bankers have faced the wrath of the public across the world since the global financial crisis following dubious lending practices which triggered a wave of bank closures and governmental bail-outs.
The airline industry has been hit as much as any other sector by the recession but there is still a huge demand for pilots.
As a result the names of 20 high-flying Bahrainis, including Fatima, selected for the first 'Cadet Pilot Training Programme' run by the Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA) have been announced. After completing the training they will have attained the qualification needed for being hired by any airline company as a first-officer.
The ambitious group - aged between 18 to 29 - will be training at the Oxford Aviation Academy in the UK on the Ab-Initio programme, a part of the process to gain the Airline Transport Pilot's Licence, described it as nothing short of a dream come true.
Mohammed Ismaeel, 29, a marketing executive for medical products in Bahrain, said: "It was always my dream to become a pilot but finding the full funds for training was always an obstacle. With this collaboration it is possible for me to fund the cost."
He said the course would cost around BD50,000, which has to be returned in five-and-a-half-years after graduation. Fortunately, thanks to the scheme, there will be no interest charges.
"I believe my maturity will also give me an advantage because this needs a lot of commitment and discipline. I also believe that airline companies are looking for mature people willing to take the responsibility of people's lives," he added.
Nick Mylne, a skills development officer of the Oxford Aviation Academy, said that the selection process followed a stringent two-day assessment. He said: "We have selected the candidates based on their tests on hand-eye co-ordination, multi-tasking, orientation and team tests other than physics, maths and English.
"They will now require to clear a Joint Aviation Authority (JAA) class one medical test that will be done in Gatwick.
"They will be doing a foundation flying course either in Australia or Phoenix in the US after they finish their theoretical tests.
"They will end up with an Air Transport Pilot's Licence. Once they are selected by an airline they will be trained on the aircraft that the particular company flies."
This BD6 million programme is a joint initiative with Mumtalakat, Bahrain Development Bank and Tamkeen (Labour Fund) that aims to support the infrastructure requirements of the kingdom.
Speaking at the inauguration, Talal Al Zain, CEO of Mumtalakat, said: "Bahrain is working to become a regional centre for aviation. Air transport infrastructure is of strategic importance to Bahrain due to the kingdom's geographical location and it will help drive economic growth for the country in the future.
"The programme will help to supply the country's future demand for Bahraini-trained commercial pilots as it develops its air transport infrastructure."
Abdullelah Al Qassimi, chief executive of Tamkeen, said that a total of 100 students will be trained under the programme. He said: "I am proud for these guys. They have a big responsibility because whoever comes after them will be judged based on their performance.
"The tests were tough and were not specially set out for them. They entered out of their own merit.
"We have skills gap in many sectors such as ICT, retail, logistics, finance and aviation. I believe that after finance, aviation will be the second most important sector in Bahrain and that we will excel in the future."
