Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Etihad Aviation Group celebrated the graduation of 140 UAE nationals from various training programmes during a Year of Tolerance-themed ceremony held last night at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi. The graduation ceremony was attended by board members, senior management of Etihad and families of the graduates.
- Graduation
celebrates ‘Year of Tolerance’ batch of trainees
- UAE nationals
account for 36% of Etihad’s senior
management team
- Etihad has
trained up cadet pilots, engineers, graduate managers and officers, and other
technical roles
- Graduation
brings total number of Emiratis to complete training to more than 1,500 since such
programmes were launched in 2007
The
graduates included 36 cadet pilots, 66 aircraft engineers, and 38 managers and
officers, bringing the total number of Emiratis to have completed such training
to more than 1,500 since they were launched in 2007.
His Excellency Mohamed
Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei, Chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “We are
proud to celebrate our ‘Year of Tolerance’ graduates. Etihad’s Emiratisation
programme continues to go from strength-to-strength, in line with the ambitions
of the UAE leadership, and reflecting the strategy of the Abu Dhabi government
and the UAE in the aviation sector. The graduation of our 11th batch
of UAE nationals emphasises our commitment to attracting more Emirati talent,
ensuring a sustainable stream of high-calibre UAE nationals into the aviation
sector. Today we mark the success of Etihad’s sustainable Emiratisation
strategy in boosting the operations of Etihad and the aviation sector, a key
driver of economic growth in the UAE.”
Ibrahim Nassir, Chief Human Resources & Organisational Development
Officer, Etihad Aviation Group said: “We’re excited to welcome our 11th
batch of graduates into the business. Our world-class training programmes span
multiple areas including cadet pilot training, engineering, graduate managers,
and other technical aviation fields, and offer a combination of certified
classroom and practical hands-on experience that equips UAE nationals with all
the skills they need to embark on an exciting career in aviation. Our people
are at the heart of our business, and we know that investing in their future is
vital for securing the sustainable development of aviation in the UAE.”
Amani AlHashmi, Head of UAE National Development, Etihad Aviation
Group, said “We are delighted to see a new class of UAE nationals graduating
from our Emiratisation programmes. Today’s graduation builds on our strong
partnerships with key industry and educational institutions in the UAE and
abroad. We look forward to welcoming more Emiratis to our various programmes in
the years to come.”
Etihad has
teamed up with world-class universities and academic organisations in the UAE
and abroad to offer courses that are certified and approved by key industry
entities including the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the
General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
The
airline offers a variety of training programmes including Etihad’s Cadet Pilot
programme which spans two years and provides trainees with a Multi-Crew Pilot License
(MPL) and a First Officer role after graduation. The Technical Engineering
Development Programme also runs for two years, combining theory and practical
assignments, where the trainees learn about light and heavy maintenance, before
graduating as a licensed aircraft mechanics.
Last
night’s graduation also celebrated the introduction of a new Foundation
programme in 2019 that focuses on essential customer service roles designed to
support airport operations, which saw the first batch of graduates receiving
their certificates, and dozens more are set to undergo training in 2020.