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“A Plane from History” A Book Chronicles Saudi Aviation’s History

Published

5 hours ago

26th November 2024

Huda

A Plane from History, tells the tale of the KSA's first aircraft and serves as a springboard for leadership in the global aviation industry.

Prince Sultan bin Salman’s most recent book, “A Plane from History,” tells the tale of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s first aircraft and serves as a springboard for leadership in the global aviation industry.

Saudi Aviation’s Birth

The “Dakota DC-3,” offered to King Abdulaziz by US President Franklin Roosevelt after they met on one of the American battleships in the Bitter Lakes in 1945, was the first aircraft owned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to Prince Sultan bin Salman, president and founder of the Saudi Aviation Club.

The book A Plane from History takes you on a visual tour to discover the history of this aircraft, including how it helped launch the first airline in Saudi Arabia, how it shaped Saudi aviation, how it has developed historically, and how the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 will further and expedite this development.

In addition, the book tells the story of Captain Joe Grant, who delivered the aircraft to Saudi Arabia, retired after serving in World War II, joined an airline, and passed away in a New York hospital in 2010 at the age of 102. It also contains rare photographs of this aircraft.

“This book is about more than just an aircraft; it’s about dreams that came true, unity created through creativity, and a future that King Abdulaziz had in mind with a big picture,” Prince Sultan bin Salman stated. He continued that “writing the book is a proud occasion for Saudi Arabia and me.”

According to public information, the first flight of this aircraft was for the founder. Alongside Abdulaziz were his sons, King Fahd and Prince Bandar. The plane travelled from Afif to Taif, and the locals were thrilled to see King Abdulaziz’s “Dakota” land. A landing strip had been prepared in Afif to receive the plane and its departure by levelling the ground and removing trees and stones.

King Abdulaziz’s Vision for Civil Aviation

When King Abdulaziz took off from Afif to travel to Taif, there were only Jeddah Airport and Al-Hawiyah Airport in Taif in the Kingdom at the time. Afif lies in the highlands of the Najd plateau from the western side in the centre of the ancient Riyadh-Makkah line.

Rewinding to the beginning of Saudi Airlines’ history, King Abdulaziz gave the order to create the airline, establishing it as a government agency connected to the Ministry of Defence. In 1963, King Faisal issued Royal Decree No. 45, which made the airline an independent organisation. Major General Ibrahim Al-Tasan assumed management of the airline from 1946 to 1960.

According to a report by the independent Cirium website, which focuses on tracking flight operations during the month of June 2024, Saudi Airlines topped the index of the punctuality of departure and arrival flights with a rate of 88.22% in the punctuality of arrival times and a rate of 88.73% in the take-off times, placing it first in the world in the list of international airlines on July 27, 2024.

Moreover, Saudi Airlines took up two bronzes, five silvers, and four major honours at the 2024 Dubai Lynx International Festival for Creativity.

Notably, for more than three decades, Prince Sultan bin Salman has been active in civil aviation. He holds licenses from the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America from 1976 and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Presidency of Civil Aviation from 1978. In 2009, he received French approval for foreign aviation licenses.

Leadership in the Saudi Space Authority

Beginning in 1985 at King Faisal Air College in Riyadh and ending in 1990 at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Dhahran, Prince Sultan bin Salman served in the Royal Saudi Air Force for more than 10 years until retiring in 1996 with the rank of Colonel Pilot.

The first Arab Muslim to fly in space was Prince Sultan bin Salman. From the Saudi Space Authority’s founding until 2021, he presided over its board of directors. Since 2021, he has also held the position of Minister and served as a special advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Additionally, he chairs the King Salman Non-Profit Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

Up until December 27, 2018, he was the President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage. He is also the Honorary President of the Arab Tourism Organisation. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made remarkable strides in the aviation and air service industries and is working to build the Saudi Airlines system.

Saudi Airlines’ awards and partnerships with foreign airlines are evidence of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which includes Saudi aviation in a significant growth plan.