Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA) recently concluded its third graduation ceremony welcoming 53 newly trained pilots.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman, and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said: “Years ago, we realised there would be a huge demand for trained pilots to support commercial aviation’s needs, and as a global airline and an industry leader, we felt compelled to act. This graduation ceremony marks the achievement of our long-term vision for establishing the state-of-the-art Emirates Flight Training Academy to welcome and nurture young talent not just locally, but globally.”
Captain Abdulla Al Hammadi, Vice President of Emirates Flight Training Academy said: “To say that our cadets, instructors, and our teams at EFTA have flown through an incredibly turbulent two years is an understatement. We have great admiration for our cadets’ spirit, positivity, and the gusto with which they went through the rigors of ground school and sailed through their flying lessons."
According to Oliver Wyman’s latest research, the Middle East region could face a shortage of 3,000 pilots by 2023 and 18,000 by 2032 while the aviation industry will experience a global gap of 34,000 pilots by 2025, which could increase to 50,000 given the impact of furloughs and retirements.