MENA Aviation Careers: The Hangar

Welcome back to the Aljaweea Aviation Careers series. In part three of our four-part exploration of the Middle East and North Africa’s aviation training landscape, we examine the backbone of the industry: Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO). The growth of the MENA commercial aviation fleet requires an expansion in aircraft maintenance capabilities.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) and Technicians (AMTs) operate under the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the primary regulatory authorities for aircraft maintenance in their respective jurisdictions. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, future AMEs usually train and obtain a license under EASA Part-66 (Licensing) and Part-147 (Training) standards, which we will focus on here. 

Local Authorities: EASA Adaptation

While the global industry relies on EASA and FAA baselines, regional civil aviation authorities including the UAE’s GCAA, Saudi Arabia’s GACA, Kuwait’s DGCA, Jordan’s CARC and Egypt’s ECAA have independent oversight. These regulators closely model their maintenance frameworks on EASA. For example, the UAE’s CAR-66 and CAR-147, Saudi Arabia’s GACAR Part 147, and Kuwait’s KCASR Part 66 mirror EASA’s module structures, examination standards, and B1/B2 licensing categories almost identically.

Regulatory differences do exist. Holding an EASA licence does not automatically grant certifying privileges without local authority validation. Also theoretical examinations are customised, most notably in Module 10 (Aviation Legislation), to ensure rigorous knowledge of domestic civil aviation laws. Finally, local authorities enforce localised continuing airworthiness directives to tackle extreme Middle Eastern operating conditions, such as severe sand ingestion, high-ambient-temperature dispatch limits, and the fulfilment of national workforce quotas.

Profiling the Modern Engineer 

Sponsorship initiatives are usually aimed at a country’s citizens under the age of 25, with strict academic requirements, such as a minimum high school grade point average of 75%. Linguistic standards require technical comprehension, with candidates needing an IELTS score of at least 5.5 to understand highly complex maintenance manuals and digital systems.

Licensing Requirements

Aviation maintenance has two licensing routes. The B1 Licence (Mechanical) qualifies engineers to service the physical airframe, powerplants (jet engines), and associated mechanical systems. The B2 Licence (Avionics) is for electrical, instrumentation, and advanced communication and navigation networks. 

Achieving either certification is a demanding task, requiring candidates to complete 13 to 14 theoretical modules, including subjects ranging from aerodynamics to digital techniques. They must also log practical experience at an active, certified Part 145 maintenance facility.

Beyond obtaining a basic B1 or B2 licence, engineers must obtain aircraft-specific type ratings, such as for the Airbus A320, A380, or Boeing 777 via certified Part-147 institutions. These specialised type rating courses combine 35 to 45 days of intensive theoretical instruction with structured On-the-Job Training (OJT) on live aircraft, granting engineers the legal authority to issue a Certificate of Release to Service (CRS) for specific airframe and engine combinations.

The Rise of Hybrid Academic Models 

In the past, technicians generally undertook a modular, independent “self-improver” route. However, recently, the MENA region seems to have shifted towards integrated, multi-year hybrid degree programmes. This change ensures graduates are familiar with corporate safety management systems long before they ever touch a live commercial airliner.

The Gulf Pathways

United Arab Emirates:

Etihad Engineering Technical Training (EYETT) in Abu Dhabi serves as a regional GCAA CAR 147 and EASA Part 147 approved maintenance training organisation. Located next to Zayed International Airport, EYETT delivers Category B1 and B2 basic and aircraft type training across modern Boeing and Airbus narrow-body and wide-body fleets. The academy integrates theoretical modules with practical On-the-Job Experience (OJE) directly within Etihad Engineering’s active Part-145 MRO hangars, equipping trainees with hands-on exposure to structural repairs, avionics troubleshooting, and complex engine ground runs.

The Emirates Engineering Training College in Dubai, operating within the Emirates Engineering Maintenance Centre, is also a GCAA CAR 147 and EASA Part 147 approved Maintenance Training Organisation. The college provides complete Category A, B1.1, and B2 basic licence training alongside advanced aircraft type-rating courses for ultra-widebody fleets, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777. Theoretical modules and simulator-based Aircraft Procedural Trainers (APTs) are combined with Practical Maintenance Experience (PME), placing trainees directly onto live operational aircraft within Emirates’ Part-145 MRO environment to fulfil CAR 66 experience requirements.

Kuwait:

Kuwait also has a strong educational infrastructure for maintenance engineering to support its national fleets. The Australian University (AU) in Kuwait offers a highly structured Diploma of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering for both B1.1 and B2 pathways, for which I myself was a theoretical knowledge instructor delivering several modules while working for AU as an Aviation Engineering Trainer. 

The diploma spans two years, with roughly 1,400 hours of theoretical instruction alongside 1,000 hours of practical training. These practical hours are split between AU’s Part-147 facilities (700 hours), which has its own 737-200 hangar and active airline hangars at Kuwait Airways (300 hours). 

AU also caters to academic development through a “2+2” progression model, allowing diploma graduates to complete an additional two years of study to secure a full Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, covering advanced topics such as operations and performance, aircraft structural analytics, and human factors and error management.

Saudi Arabia:

Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, the drive to localise maintenance operations is strong. Saudia Technic’s “Future Technic” programme in Jeddah serves to strengthen Saudisation. This 36-month Airframe and Power Plant (A&P) initiative is restricted to Saudi nationals under the age of 25. High school applicants must present a 75% minimum GPA, while diploma holders require a 3.0 out of 5.0 GPA. 

The programme blends theoretical education with practical hangar experience. By providing financial incentives, including a monthly stipend, medical insurance, and social insurance registration, the Kingdom is attempting to build a sustainable, domestic technical workforce capable of maintaining the rapidly expanding fleets across Saudi Arabia’s entire airline ecosystem, from Saudia and flyadeal to Flynas and Riyadh Air.

The Levant 

Jordan: 

In Jordan, the regional shift towards the academic model is perfectly illustrated by the Joramco Academy, which offers a four-year hybrid EASA/CARC Part-66 integrated programme. The course requires two years of intensive academic classroom instruction, followed directly by a two-year internship working on live assets, such as the Boeing 737, on the hangar floor. The academy also partners with the University of Jordan to offer an extended five-year bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering that seamlessly incorporates the B1.1 licensing requirements.

North Africa 

Egypt:

Serving North Africa, Egypt provides heavy maintenance training through EgyptAir Training Academy Maintenance Training in Cairo. Operating as an EASA Part-147 and Part-145 approved MRO facility providing a technical pipeline, not only for Egyptian nationals, but also for engineers across North and Sub-Saharan Africa. Trainees complete theoretical instruction alongside practical hangar experience across diverse commercial fleets, including Airbus and Boeing narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, supporting North Africa’s self-reliance in airframe overhauls, component repairs, and long-term airworthiness management. 

Morocco:

The Académie Internationale Mohammed VI de l’Aviation Civile (AIAC) in Casablanca operates as the nation’s premier hub for aeronautical engineering and maintenance education. Governed by the National Office of Airports (ONDA) and operating as an ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS recognised institution, AIAC offers specialised multi-year diplomas covering aircraft maintenance systems, embedded avionics, and aerospace industrialisation. Students complete theoretical studies coupled with practical, hands-on internships across Morocco’s growing aerospace manufacturing ecosystem and Royal Air Maroc’s maintenance hangars, ensuring a steady pipeline of certified engineers trained to sustain both regional commercial airframes and global OEM supply chains.

Through these highly structured, multi-year courses, the MENA region is successfully transforming raw talent into MRO excellence. Join us next week in the final instalment of the Aljaweea series, where we move to the airport and explore the various aviation careers available on the ground.