OSM Aviation to acquire 51% share in Scandinavian Aviation Academy

OSM Aviation is acquiring a 51% share in Scandinavian Aviation Academy (SAA), which will result in the opening of a new training centre, OSM Aviation Academy, at Arendal Airport Gullknapp.

SAA currently operates a pilot school at Stockholm Västerås International Airport in Sweden and in San Diego in the US, which cater to approximately 100 students between them. The company offers a two-year course (costing €100,000) which is compliant with the integrated Ab-initio programme for pilot training and qualifies graduates to fly for an international airline.

This year, Norwegian students pursuing an officially approved airline pilot course are being offered a favourable financial package by the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund, allowing them to receive up to NOK 1,049,000 in support of the two-year period of study.

The new OSM Aviation Academy, which is due to begin operations during autumn 2018, will slowly build up to a capacity of 100 students. With classrooms, offices, a hangar and a flight simulator, the school will employ just over 30 staff.

The new school will collaborate extensively with the SAA facility in Sweden on such aspects as educational curricula, systems and routines to maintain quality and safety as well as meeting regulatory requirements.

In addition, SAA owns a company which provides maintenance for the aircraft used in the training and education. This will also be utilised by the OSM Aviation Academy in Norway.

“We’re pleased to have acquired a long-term industrial player as one of our largest shareholders,” declared Olof Bärve, CEO of SAA. “Through a closer and more integrated collaboration with OSM Aviation, we’ll continue our commitment to quality in training while expanding both capacity and student programmes.”