Emirates graduates ready for the skies

DUBAI - The region's aviation companies are investing in training personnel as the demand for qualified individuals rises.

By A Staff Reporter

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Published: Fri 4 Jul 2008, 8:35 PM

Last updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 6:03 PM

Emirates had 120 students graduate from the Emirates Aviation College this week, while Etihad Airways has just begun its fourth Emirati pilot programme and a fifth class will start this month.

Following the Emirates graduation ceremony recently, the latest batch of students join more than 12,000 graduates since the college's establishment in 1991.

Mohammed Al Budoor, Vice-Chancellor of the Emirates Aviation College, said: "Emirates Aviation College has been offering first class aviation-related educational programmes for the past 17 years. It's important for us to keep up with the fast growth of the aviation industry in the UAE and the rest of the world.

"The College is committed to providing highly qualified and well equipped graduates to fulfil the aviation market demands in aviation management, aerospace maintenance, business and tourism, air traffic management, information technology, project management and logistics."

Etihad Airways fourth class of Emirati cadet pilots, including 11 men and a woman, will complete an 18-month course at the Horizon International Flight Academy in Al Ain.

Etihad currently has 44 Emirati cadet pilots training at Horizon, four of whom are females, with the first class of seven cadets on schedule to qualify for their airline transport pilot licence (ATPL) in December 2008.

A fifth class of Emirati cadet pilots is due to join the Etihad programme later this month and a further two classes will start in November 2008, bringing the total number of number of Emirati cadet pilots to 80.

Etihad is also set to launch its first international class with 12 cadet pilots due to commence training in July with another class of 12 following in November 2008. Cadets in both classes have been hand-picked from across the world by Etihad to join the programme.

To complete the Etihad pilot programme, and become a first officer co-pilot on the airline's Airbus A320 fleet of jets, each cadet has to undertake 905 hours in the classroom and 205 hours flying experience in single and multi-engine aircraft as well as Etihad' state-of-the-art flight simulators in Abu Dhabi.

In addition to the cadet pilot programme, Etihad Airways' Emiratisation initiatives focus on two other streams which include the technical engineering development programme and graduate management development programme.

Etihad CEO James Hogan said: "Etihad continues to build its Emiratisation scheme, which by the end of 2008, will boast more than 100 participants across the cadet pilot, management trainee and technical engineering programmes.

"With Etihad's incredible growth set to continue, it is crucial that we develop our multi-talented, multi-cultural workforce with strong Emirati representation."`


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