Oklahoma, USA – On November 17, 2025, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology’s Tulsa campus welcomed an inaugural cohort of 40 students from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in partnership with Saudia Technic. This diverse class comprised of both men and women, officially began their training in Spartan’s Federal Aviation Administration Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) program.

Spartan, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been an aviation training destination since 1928, with a legacy of training over 100,000 pilots and technicians from the United States and more than 40 other countries.

Saudia Technic, located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) arm of Saudia Airlines. With over six decades of operation and more than 2,700 certified aviation technicians, it is one of the leading MRO service providers in the Middle East.

Recognizing the critical role of aviation in Saudi Vision 2030, the Spartan–Saudia Technic partnership aims to make a significant impact on the Kingdom’s goal of becoming a premier, global aviation hub. Upon their return, the graduates who do earn an FAA Airframe and

Powerplant Certification will be integral to localizing advanced aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities within the Kingdom, as Saudia Technic accelerates the development of a self-sufficient world class aviation workforce.

“Having had the opportunity to meet these young men and women, we couldn’t be more excited to have them in Tulsa, Oklahoma,” said Kari Pahno, Spartan Tulsa Campus President. “Spartan College is honored to support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s investment in technical training and workforce development, and we look forward to helping these aspiring professionals reach their full potential.”

Abdulrahman Sadawi, Supervisor of Learning and Development for Saudia Technic, worked closely with Dan Bregman, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Development at Spartan to create the partnership between their respective companies resulting in a training pathway for these students.

Led by Fouad Kasem, Supervisor Talent Acquisition Nationalization, 40 students were meticulously selected, by Saudia Technic, from a highly competitive pool of candidates based on rigorous academic and technical assessments. While in Tulsa, Spartan’s curriculum teaches critical technical skills, and the students will experience the culture of the second-largest aviation training center in the United States.

“This significant investment in our young talent is a key step in our strategy to build the most capable and technologically advanced maintenance workforce in the region. These 40 future leaders will be the engine driving Saudia Technic’s expansion,” said Thamer Filimban, head of Learning and Development at Saudia Technic.

About Spartan Education Group
Spartan Education Group, LLC (SEG), headquartered in Chicago, IL, owns and operates several aviation training operations. McAir Aviation, in Broomfield, CO, and Illinois Aviation Academy, in West Chicago, IL, are FAA-approved Part 141 flight schools. Spartan Flight Academy is an FAA Part 61 operation in Grand Prairie, Texas. Separately, SEG owns Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, a system of three schools with four locations in the Tulsa, Denver, Los Angeles and Inland Empire areas.

Source: Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
Photo Credit: Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology