The OJE programme is managed by Etihad Engineering Technical Training, the company’s onsite state-of-the-art training facility in Abu Dhabi which trains more than 10,000 aviation professionals through more than 600 courses every year.

The OJE programme with VCATI was launched in December 2022, and once equipped with the basic underpinning knowledge, safety training and kit, students enter the hangar environment and benefit from close support from experienced staff.

Throughout their journey, each student is monitored and assessed on performance and competency and encouraged to be proactive.

Completing the journey, VCATI’s first batch of trainees have passed through Etihad Engineering’s rigorous recruitment process to start full-time positions with the company.

Adrian Guirey, senior manager of Etihad Engineering Technical Training, said: “The aviation sector is booming and the demand for highly skilled and well-trained professionals is higher than ever in our MRO business.

“Our OJE Programme with VCATI enables us to usher in the next generation of aviation professionals who will become qualified and highly competent aircraft engineers filling the talent gap in the industry.”

Etihad Engineering Technical Training is approved by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE, and is a part of Etihad Engineering, the largest commercial MRO facility in the Middle East.

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