Etihad Aviation Training has become the first company in the Middle East to gain approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to train Boeing 777 and 787 pilots for European operators and carriers elsewhere that adopt Europe’s air safety standards.

The approval to train pilots for these two wide-bodied Boeing aircraft types expands the global capabilities of Etihad Aviation Training, the specialist training division of Etihad Aviation Group which in 2018 also became the first Middle Eastern aerospace business to gain EASA designation as an Approved Training Organisation for pilots of Airbus A320, A330 and A340 aircraft.

Vice-president and MD of Etihad Aviation Training Captain Paolo La Cava said continuing growth in global demand for air travel was driving increased requirements for pilot training.

“Some operators have insufficient capacity to conduct training in their own facilities while others do not have in-house capabilities,” said La Cava. “In addition to training pilots for Etihad Airways, Etihad Aviation Training also supports the requirements of many other operators for a range of aircraft types.

The suite of offerings ranges from ab initio courses to type rating and recurrent training, as well as Upset Recovery Training and Performance-Based Navigation.

Etihad Aviation Training has 11 full-motion training simulators, including five for Boeing 777 and 787 training, as well as fixed base devices, and training teams include senior pilots actively flying for Etihad Airways. Support options can also be provided, including accommodation, transport and even tourism for trainees in Abu Dhabi.

Captain La Cava said the Boeing 777 and 787 were two of the most in-demand aircraft in service today, and as their deployment increased so too did the demand for pilot training. He added that Etihad Aviation Training would also shortly add training capability for the newest widebody aircraft in airline service, the Airbus A350.

He noted: “The EASA designation as an Approved Training Organisation for the Boeing 777 and 787 significantly broadens the markets in which Etihad Aviation Training can offer services, enabling the business to support operators in Europe and elsewhere, particularly in the fast-growing Asia region where EASA standards have been adopted.”

“This approval also strengthens the credentials of Abu Dhabi as an aviation centre of excellence for aircrew training and other services including maintenance and engineering”, he concluded.

Visit etihadaviationtraining.com for more information.