QAC officials and guests at the graduation ceremony

The Qatar Aeronautical College (QAC) has hosted a ceremony for graduates of its various programmes before the institute closes on August 4 for the session.A total of 10 air traffic controllers (ATCs), four meteorology forecasters, and six radio operation officers were honoured during the graduation ceremony held yesterday at its main hall.

The graduation came at a time when the QAC is expected to be confirmed by World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) as the regional training centre for meteorology, covering the Middle East and Asia, officials revealed.

While the 10 ATCs and four meteorologists all hail from Eritrea, after having been sponsored by their government, the six radio operators enrolled in the QAC’s programme are from Qatar Petroleum and Ras Laffan, said QAC ATC department head Edwin Eboy, who was also the master of ceremony. The graduating ATCs are Amanuel Habte Mezenghi, Mesfun Belai Debessai, Haile Yemane Gebreyesus, Mesfun Gebrezghi Habtemariam, Tesfaldet Habtemicael Asfaha, Efrem Kifle Habte, Isaias Abraha Berhane, Tekie Ghebremariam, Mebrahtu Teklay Zerai and Michael Asfaha Ghebrat.

The meteorologists are Kahsai Asrat Haileab, Tesfay Bekurezion Haile, Hiyab Ghebreslassie Tesfu and Dawit Andermariam. The radio operation officers are Solomon Dedrick Jackobs, Usama Salim Kh Alwardi, Juma Ghabish Said, Noor Mohamed Nasir Karam Ellahi, Ali Salim al-Abdulsalam and Ali Bhakt Ali Tabook. “The demand for ATCs and meteorologists worldwide exceeds supply, and the QAC is the major training institute in the region meeting this demand,” Eboy said.

The QAC’s syllabus meets the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation for ATC training and the WMO for meteorological training. “The QAC has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Britain’s Reading University to offer a one-and-a-half-year ‘top-up’ Bachelor of Science (Meteorology) for QAC graduates,” the official said. QAC Meteorology department head Dr Najim Barazanchi also spoke during the ceremony.
“Life has a habit of changing. The day reflects great success for trainers and students involved in a month-long high intensity programmes. However, education alone is not the guarantee to success. It’s up to you to strive now,” the official said.

In his speech, QAC director-general Ali Ibrahim al-Malki said the graduates reflect the relations between Eritrea and Qatar.“I believe we did our part and you the students did yours. Some of you came from the field and can hopefully go back and apply the knowledge learned here.  “But the QAC’s training doesn’t stop here. “We only paved the way for you to gain much better accreditation,” al-Malki said. The Eritrean nationals will now return to the African country and work at the two major airports there.This was the fifth such batch from the country, while another is expected to commence training at the QAC in September.

ATC Amanuel Habte Mezenghi said his was a six-month, two-part (approach control and area control) course. “This job may not pay much but its considered a respectable one back in Eritrea,” he said.
Another graduate, a meteorology forecaster, Hiyab Ghebreslassie Tesfu, said his course duration was seven-and-a-half months and he came to like Qatar. “Ours is a new country and the government is paying attention to create and invest in all these jobs. I will miss Qatar,” he said.

Eritrea Ambassador to Qatar Ali Ibrahim Ahmed conferred the certificates to all the graduates. Apart from ATC and meteorology, the QAC also offers training in aircraft piloting, aircraft maintenance engineering, airport operations, and English language courses including IELTS (International English Language Testing System). All courses come with international accreditation, officials said.