Etihad Airways has launched a new pilot training initiative to ensure it will not be caught short of pilots as it expands in the future. Pressure to find new pilots is intensifying in the Middle East and Asia, with Asian carriers set to add almost 1.5 new aircraft a day to the regional fleet this year.
From June, the carrier plans to operate a worldwide cadet scheme for first officers, complementing its existing UAE-nationals based cadet programme. The initial group of 12 cadets will be trained for 18 months in Abu Dhabi at the Horizon Flight Academy. Two further intakes of 12 cadets will follow over the course of the year.
The separate scheme for UAE nationals will take an intake of 48 in the first year. The two groups will initially be trained separately, although they will be integrated as they transition from training to flyingoperations.