What happened
Oman Aviation Academy (OAA), an EASA-approved flight training organisation at Sohar Airport, has welcomed its first group of trainees from Air Arabia Academy, the Sharjah-based training arm of Air Arabia, AFM reported on 14 October 2026.
How it came about
The partnership took a few months to set up:
- The two academies signed a training cooperation agreement in June 2026.
- In September 2026 OAA received approval from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to train Air Arabia Academy cadets.
- OAA now supports Air Arabia Academy's Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) training pathway, giving it extra training capacity in Oman.
About Air Arabia Academy
Formerly T3 Aviation Academy, it is wholly owned by Air Arabia and delivers MPL training, type ratings and simulator training. The academy reports having supported more than 800 cadets, with over 500 graduates going on to fly with Air Arabia.
What this means if you're training
Airlines are increasingly spreading training across several schools and countries to find capacity. For cadets, that can mean doing part of the course abroad. When you compare programmes, ask where each phase takes place, which authority approves it, and how that affects the licence you end up holding.
Sources
AFM, "Oman Aviation Academy Welcomes First Air Arabia Academy Pilot Trainees to Sohar", 14 October 2026: https://afm.aero/oman-aviation-academy-welcomes-first-air-arabia-academy-pilot-trainees-to-sohar