Transport Malta has today licensed Freebird Airlines Europe as an Approved Training Organisation, the first international company in Malta licenced exclusively for aviation training, it said in a statement.

"Freebird's decision to set up shop in Malta confirms and consolidates Malta's efforts to maintain and expand a comprehensive aviation cluster for the island,"a Transport Malta statement read.

"Freebird will start to provide EASA Approved Type Rating Training in Malta.  For the first time, budding Maltese commercial pilots can receive most of the training required in Malta. Freebird also aims to service the increasing demand for pilot and crew training in the region.  The organisation, in synergy with other local service providers, will focus on rating training for the Airbus A320, the Boeing 737, simulator flight instructor training and Type Rating Instructor training."

Capt. Cengiz Arbac, from the organisation, said that, "with the professional and constructive cooperation of Transport Malta we would like to extend our contribution to the aviation and the training industry in Europe and other regions. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Maltese Civil Aviation Directorate and look forward to expanding our training services."

Freebird Airlines Europe is part of Gözen Holding, "a group of companies which are very active in the Aviation industry with airlines and branches catering for representation, surveillance, fuel, controlling, brokerage, security and training. The group has been established for the past 38 years and its 6 companies employ more than 2,000 employees."