In line with the strategy of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and its constant keenness to create an advanced educational and training environment that keeps pace with the future requirements of civil aviation, Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation, received Italian Ambassador in Cairo Michele Quaroni at the ministry's headquarters. The meeting comes in light of the distinguished relations between Egypt and Italy in various fields, foremost among them the civil aviation sector. During the visit, both sides attended a ceremony organized by the Egyptian Aviation Academy for the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between SAVIS Aviation Services and Italy's FLYON Aero academy, one of Europe's leading institutions in aircraft maintenance training, to enhance the efficiency of technical training in this field.
The signing ceremony was attended by Captain Amr El-Sharkawy, Head of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority; Captain Ezzat Metwally, Chairman of the Holding Company for the Egyptian Aviation Academy; Major General Dr. El-Hussein Mostafa Sharaf, Director of the Military Technical College; Enrico Foresto, CEO of FLYON Aero; and Dr. Eng. Alaa Mostafa, CEO of SAVIS.
The signing of the cooperation protocol between the Egyptian and Italian sides is a qualitative step that helps strengthen human capabilities and supports the development of the training system in line with the highest international standards. It also represents a shared vision for building qualified cadres that will help drive growth in the aviation sector, in line with global trends in this field.
In his opening speech at the ceremony, Dr. Sameh El-Hefny stressed the strength of the joint and distinguished relations between the two countries, noting that the agreement reflects the Ministry of Civil Aviation's vision of building an integrated training system to qualify national cadres in line with the highest European and international standards, foremost among them EASA, as a key pillar for the advancement of the aviation industry in Egypt. He also welcomed this new cooperation with the Italian side, describing it as "a real opportunity to exchange expertise, integrate curricula and enhance the training efficiency of engineers and technicians in line with European and international standards." He stressed that investing in human capital is at the top of the ministry's priorities and that the agreement represents a qualitative leap in developing aircraft maintenance programs at the academy by integrating technical qualification for both EASA and ICAO licenses to meet the needs of the labor market.
For his part, Italian Ambassador Michele Quaroni expressed his pleasure at the meeting and the signing of the agreement, stressing the depth of the distinguished Egyptian-Italian relations in various fields, foremost among them civil aviation, and noting that "Egyptian-Italian relations are witnessing qualitative development, and the Egyptian Aviation Academy is a leading regional model in technical education. We are proud that FLYON Aero is part of this ambitious project."
Major General Pilot Ezzat Metwally also stressed that the agreement represents a successful continuation of the partnership between the academy and SAVIS, noting that 70% of students at the College of Specialized Studies are enrolled in EASA license qualification programs, which reflects the importance of cooperation in qualifying students to international standards. He announced plans to establish a regionally accredited training center in cooperation with FLYON Aero, called the Satellite Training Center – EASA 147, to serve the Middle East and Africa.
Dr. Eng. Alaa Mostafa explained that the agreement is a strong start for a sustainable path of cooperation, as it marks the launch of an integrated training system that qualifies young Egyptians and Arabs to lead the aviation industry in the region, stressing that the strategic goal is to make Egypt a regional and international center of excellence in aircraft maintenance with qualified national cadres using the latest technologies.
It is worth noting that FLYON Aero is one of the strongest technical training institutions in Europe and operates in several countries, including Spain, Kenya, Albania, Pakistan, Libya, Sudan, Kuwait, Dubai and the United States, which gives the agreement a broad international dimension, opens up global career opportunities for Egyptian students and confirms Egypt's growing standing in the aviation industry.
