UAE likely to have Gulf’s first AeroPark

The UAE is likely to be the first country in the GCC region where a satellite academy of the just-announced world’s first Capa AeroPark at Bangalore in India would be set up, a senior official of Sydney-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (Capa), provider of aviation market intelligence, analysis and data services, has said.

“We plan to open a satellite academy of the Capa AeroPark in the Gulf, most likely in the UAE, although the precise location is yet to be determined,” Binit Somaia, Director (South Asia) of Capa told Emirates 24|7.

On Monday, Capa and Bangalore-based real estate developer SCDC Group signed a joint venture agreement to develop Capa AeroPark, world’s first integrated aviation university and training campus, with an investment of $125m to be developed in Bangalore, a statement said.

There are plans for further rollout to other metro cities across India, South Asia and the Gulf, the statement added.

“Given the rapid growth of the aviation industry in the Gulf with its large fleet orders and major airport development projects, establishing a Capa AeroPark academy in the UAE is a natural extension of our initiative,” Somaia said.

“Our immediate focus is on establishing the flagship campus in Bangalore and the satellites in Delhi and Mumbai, so a final decision on the location and scope of our expansion into Gulf will probably be taken towards the end of 2011,” he added.

Capa AeroPark in Bangalore will offer a university and international standard academies for airline and airport management, pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers, cabin crew and regulators.

The fully developed campus will include state-of-the-art academic facilities together with full flight simulators, a flying school, engineering workshops and laboratories, research centres, accommodation for students and faculty, recreational facilities, a hotel and convention centre, the statement said.