Al-Tamimi was the first Saudi helicopter commander when he worked with Aramco’s Arab Helicopter Company between 1982 and 1984. He was also an Airbus pilot, was CEO of the Gulf Aviation Technology Company, and later held senior positions at GACA before his latest appointment. Abdul Hakim Al-Tamimi is the chairman of the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) who has held the rank of minister since June 2017. Before his appointment in 2017, he served as assistant chairman of the Authority for Safety, Security and Air Transport at the General Authority of Civil Aviation and was an executive member of the Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Authority. Al-Tamimi studied aviation in the US and earned a number of licenses. He also received an aviation trainer certification and a commercial pilot certification from the US, with qualifications in a number of jetliners. Born in 1961, Al-Tamimi was the first Saudi helicopter commander when he worked with Aramco’s Arab Helicopter Company between 1982 and 1984. He served as the pilot in command in Learjet and Hawker aircraft between 1984 and 1986. Then he moved to work in the field of medical evacuation in the armed forces. Between 1986 and 1988 he was pilot in command and also the director of medical evacuation training for Learjet and Gulfstream aircraft. From 2008 to 2015 he was the CEO of the Gulf Aviation Technology Company, specializing in light aircraft maintenance. He was licensed by the General Authority of Civil Aviation and the European Aviation and Space Administration. He also became an Airbus pilot and a consultant to the NAS general manager of operations. GACA and the US Federal Aviation Administration signed a memorandum of understanding on Saturday. The parties discussed investment opportunities in the Kingdom at a roundtable meeting with major American civil aviation companies.