New Emirates academy to train next-gen pilots

Emirates Flight Training Academy, which seeks to set new benchmarks for next-generation pilot training, was officially inaugurated on Monday by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Dubai Airshow.

Located in Dubai South, the academy, a first of its kind in the world providing fully integrated pilot training, has been established by Emirates to qualify UAE nationals and international students.

The academy, part of the Emirates Group, will instill cadets with an airline culture and train pilots for the airline industry’s future requirements and in particular, Emirates airline.

“The facility will combine cutting-edge learning technologies and a modern fleet of training aircraft to train cadets with no previous knowledge of flying,” Emirates said in a statement.

The academy has invested over $39 million in a modern fleet of 27 training aircraft — 22 Cirrus SR22 G6 single-engine piston aircraft and five Embraer Phenom 100EV very light jet aircraft.

Dignitaries present at the opening on Monday included Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council; Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the Chairman of Dubai Media Incorporated; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline and Group, and Sir Tim Clark, president, Emirates airline.

Cadets will be trained using simulators, single and multi-engine aircraft; and provided with theoretical knowledge of the aviation industry to facilitate their transition into the airline business. “The investment in the facility underscores Emirates’ commitment, as a global leader in aviation, to put in place modern infrastructure to help develop career-ready pilots for Emirates and the broader aviation industry,” the airline said.

Sheikh Ahmed said the academy, which was first announced at the 2011 Dubai Airshow, is designed to be one of the most advanced flight training facilities not just in the Middle East but also in the world.

“This is the only academy in the world that provides complete integration of flight training, ground school, accommodation and recreation under one roof. Students will not only get the best training but will also be able to enjoy comfortable living standards while undergoing training. The Academy will set new benchmarks for next-generation pilot training relying on innovation and partnering with industry training organisations, strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub for aviation,” said Sheikh Ahmed.

Construction for the facility started in 2015, and early this year, landside facilities as well as the first phase of accommodation were completed.

The academy is a full residential facility spread over an area of 164,000 square metres. It includes 36 ground school classrooms, ground-based simulators, a fleet of 27 training aircraft, a 1,800 metre dedicated runway with modern navigation aids and lighting, an independent air traffic control tower, rescue and firefighting service and a maintenance centre.  

The total course duration will vary between 21 months and 3.5 years, depending on whether cadets require foundation courses in addition to the regular curriculum.

Cadets will complete at least 1,100 hours of ground-based training and 315 hours of flight training (including simulator flying) using a competency-based approach. “This will ensure that the training exceeds guidelines prescribed by authorities for ab initio pilot training,” said the statement.

Cadets, both male and female, admitted into the programme will have access to modern and individual studio accommodation in addition to a range of sports and leisure facilities. The Academy will be able to accommodate up to 600 cadets at one time.

— issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com