Emirates has announced that it is expanding its Flight Training Academy program to provide a reliable influx of new pilots amid a widespread shortage in the industry.
Launched in 2017, the Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA) was initially launched with a focus on training UAE nationals, but now it is set to welcome cadets from around the world. According to the airline, over 120 graduates of the program are now flying full-time for Emirates.
EFTA’s current intake of 290 cadets spans 23 nationalities and includes 27 women.
In line with the program’s continued success and expansion, the airline has also announced the integration of three brand-new Diamond aircraft into its training program.
Based in Austria, Diamond Aircraft Industries is a Chinese-owned manufacturer of general aviation aircraft and motor gliders. According to Emirates, Diamond has designed its product line of modern fuel-efficient aircraft, each with a specific training application in mind.
EFTA’s current cadets also fly the Diamond DA42-VI light piston twin-engine aircraft, which has successfully introduced multi-engine piston training at the academy.
This means that cadets will now train on three different aircraft types – single-engine, twin-engine and multi-engine light jets. Emirates claims that this a “rarity” among flight training academies, which generally train cadets on just one or two aircraft types.
At the 2023 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 program.
In a press release, Captain Abdulla Al Hammadi, Divisional Vice President Emirates Flight Training Academy said: “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.”