23 January 2020: Etihad Aviation Training has become the first aviation company in the Middle East to receive the approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to train Boeing 777 and 787 pilots for European operators and carriers elsewhere which adopt Europe's air safety standards.
As the company has received the approval to train pilots for these two wide-bodied Boeing aircraft types, it has now expanded their global capabilities. In 2018, Etihad Aviation Training 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.
"Some operators have insufficient capacity to conduct training in their own facilities while others do not have in-house capabilities," said Captain La Cava, Vice President and Managing Director of Etihad Aviation Training. "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.
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 consists of senior pilots actively flying for Etihad Airways.
"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," said Captain La Cava.
"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."