The Emirates Flight Training Academy marked its sixth graduation ceremony with 77 cadets completing the program, adding to a pipeline that has produced more than 300 trained pilots to date for Emirates and the wider aviation industry.
Of the graduating class, 52 cadets are part of the Emirates Group’s UAE National Pilot Cadet Programme, while 25 represent 15 other countries. Most EFTA graduates are now flying or continuing training with Emirates on the airline’s widebody fleet. The National Pilot Cadet Programme, the UAE’s largest initiative of its kind, is fully sponsored by the Group and provides a defined pathway to Emirates following graduation and type-rating completion.
The ceremony was attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, along with senior leadership, faculty members, graduates, and their families.
Based in Dubai South, the academy integrates academic instruction, flight training technology and leadership development. Its campus includes residential facilities for cadets and a purpose-built training environment spanning the equivalent of 200 football fields. The facility features 36 classrooms, six full-motion simulators, an independent air traffic control tower and a dedicated 1,800-metre runway. Training is supported by a fleet of 32 aircraft, including Cirrus, Diamond, Gamebird and Embraer models.
During the ceremony, five cadets were recognised for outstanding performance, with an additional award presented for diligence.
Launched in 2017 at Dubai World Central, the Emirates Flight Training Academy was established to train UAE nationals and later expanded to include international students, supporting Emirates’ long-term pilot requirements.
Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office
Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.
Alexander Agafiev Macambira
