Saudi Arabia inaugurated on Wednesday the National Aviation Academy that would train pilots and teach the bases of aircraft maintenance. Prince Sultan bin Salman, the head of the academy’s board of trustees, inaugurated the academy at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in Makkah province. The academy would support 1,650 trainees annually, including 1,200 in aircraft maintenance and 450 pilots, making it the largest center of its kind in the Middle East. The prince said the academy will strengthen the Saudi economy and the aviation industry. "With the Kingdom’s strategic position and strong economy, it continues to make great progress in aviation, with the largest airports, the largest freight jets, and many significant international aviation conferences and forums,” he said. The academy will be headquartered at KAEC, while its second branch will be based in Riyadh.