Briton John Wheldon, 57, manager simulators and equipment maintenance with Gulf Aviation Academy in Bahrain, has spent much of his life in the region, working for Gulf Air's training department in both Bahrain and Qatar since 1982. He began his aviation career with British Airways in the mid-1970s
What are your responsibilities at GAA?
I look after the flight simulator equipment as well as the cabin crew evacuation and service trainers. We have three machines - two Airbus A320s and one A330/A340 and our fourth A320 will be installed in early September. Our first Embraer 170/190 simulator is coming at the end of the year.
 |
|---|
© GAAJohn Wheldon looks after the flight simulator equipment as well as the cabin crew evacuation and service trainers |
How did you end up in this job?
I joined Gulf Air in 1982 and was involved in the construction of the first Lockheed TriStar simulator and the first training centre in Bahrain. Later we moved the centre to Qatar - which was also a shareholder in the airline - and I lived there for 13 years before coming back to Bahrain in 2005. I was with Gulf Air for 27 years until last October the training arm was transferred to the new independent GAA business.
What changes have you seen in your time in the Gulf?
Bahrain back in the 1980s was the centre of the Gulf and was very cosmopolitan. Dubai had not kicked off. Dubai took over the crown but in the past few years, Bahrain has moved forward too. When I went to Qatar it was very conservative and underdeveloped. The development there has been exponential.
What has it been like to bring up a family in the region?
It's great for young kids, maybe not so good for older children, but the English curriculum education is tremendous. Schools can be expensive but St Christopher's in Bahrain is one of the top of its kind in the world. Qatar Academy is excellent too. Both my kids didn't leave the region until they went to university. They also rubbed shoulders with children from a lot of ethnic backgrounds which broadened their minds. Parents and children are well motivated, so it's a big positive.
What about life in general?
It's a good place to live, with a lively social scene. However, I'd say you have to be resilient and resourceful. A lot of people leave in a year.
And the job?
It's always challenging. What you find with many jobs here is that they are not defined in the way that they are perhaps in other countries, so you find yourself getting involved in a lot of areas. I see that as a positive. You never know what you might be doing next week.
Source: Flight International
