UND is training 27 Saudis to fly helicopters and as many as 48 more over the next several years in a contract worth about $17 million, according to a UND Aerospace Foundation official.
Executive Director Chuck Pineo said the students arrived more than a week ago and have started English courses as a precursor to their pilot training.
The contract is between the foundation, which is the business arm of the School of Aerospace Sciences, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry. The pilots would join the ministry's search and rescue operations when they graduate, according to Pineo.
The additional activities, he said, would allow the school to expand its helicopter fleet of six Schweizer 300 very light helicopters and two Bell 206 light helicopters to 10 Schweizers and three Bells.
UND originally began working with businesses in Saudi Arabia by way of relationships the aerospace school's founder, John D. Odegard, built. At one time, the school had trained helicopter pilots for Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company.
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Pineo said one of those Aramco pilots became a consultant for the Interior Ministry and recommended UND for a pilot training contract. About a month ago, the two sides signed a contract that included tuition, flight fees, English training and housing, he said.
Some of the students, he said, may bring their family to town, which he expects would add to the economic impact of the deal.
Reach Tran at (701) 780-1248; (800) 477-6572, ext. 248; or send e-mail to ttran@gfherald.com .
