Emirates Flight Training Academy spreads its wings

Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA), which trains aspiring pilots of the UAE, has now extended its programme to aspirants across the world.

EFTA’s current batch has 290 cadets from 23 nationalities, and which includes 27 women. There are over 120 graduates who’re now flying full-time for Emirates, and who form the new generation of pilots.

Also, EFTA is flying high on the integration of three brand-new Diamond aircraft into its training programme.

Although the majority are students who’ve recently graduated from high school, the cadets are between 17 and 26 years. In fact, an Emirates cabin crew is now a cadet at EFTA, having met the academy’s strict eligibility criteria, said EFTA in a statement.

Captain Abdulla Al Hammadi, Divisional Vice President Emirates Flight Training Academy, said; "EFTA is fully focused on establishing a reliable stream of pilots for the aviation industry, which has been staring at scarcity in the short to the long term, and giving aspiring cadets a visionary academy based in an iconic and one of the safest cities that is also one of the largest aviation hubs on the planet.

“We offer one of the most sophisticated cadet training programmes, delivered by our 50+ highly skilled instructors, and backed by the exceptional standards and governance set by Emirates, the world’s largest international airline. It’s inspiring to see the camaraderie and collaboration among our cadets as they graduate real-world ready with the highest levels of skills and competencies required by commercial pilots."

EFTA’s cadets now also fly the Diamond DA42-VI light piston twin-engine aircraft, which has successfully introduced multi-engine piston training at the academy. This means cadets train on three different aircraft types – single-engine, twin-engine and multi-engine light jets.

This is a rarity for flight training academies that generally train cadets on just one or two aircraft types, said a statement.

At the Dubai Airshow, EFTA will be showcasing its Diamond DA42-VI and Cirrus SR22 aircraft with instructors on hand to share information about the academy’s fleet and cadet training programme.

The academy, which was launched by Emirates in 2017, combines cutting-edge learning technologies and a modern fleet of 29 training aircraft – 22 x Cirrus SR22 G6 single-engine piston, 4 x Embraer Phenom 100EV very light jet, and 3 x Diamond DA42-VI light piston twin-engine aircraft.

EFTA’s state-of-the-art facility, which is spread over 12.5 million sq ft equivalent to 200 football pitches, currently has 36 modern classrooms, six full motion flight simulators, an independent Air Traffic Control Tower, and a dedicated 1,800m runway. Cadets live on campus in fully furnished, individual studio flats with a range of recreational facilities, social activities and top-notch dining.

Ground school (52 weeks): All 36 classrooms are equipped with two 86" touchscreens, running bespoke training software created specifically for EFTA. Cadets undergo at least 1,100 hours of ground-based training, and access the material via their own devices, which are digitally interconnected, creating an interactive training environment.

Flying Phase (52 weeks, 272 hours): Cadets train on simulators and the three types of training aircraft.

Here's what two EFTA graduates, currently Emirates’ cadet pilots, have to say:

Thomas Saunders, Australian national, said: "Emirates Flight Training Academy is a great route to work at the best airline in the world. Our cadet community at EFTA is very tight knit and collaborative. The training gets the best out of us and sets us on our way to a long, enjoyable and successful career. The facilities and infrastructure are absolutely stunning, and everything you need is right at your doorstep.”

Jordan Engeler, Australian national, said: “World class training facilities, experienced and supportive instructors, and a diverse and inclusive community were the top three things I loved about EFTA. Emirates is renowned for its exceptional commitment to safety, innovation, and excellence in the aviation industry. EFTA shares these values and offers a world-class training programme.” – TradeArabia News Service