Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has become the first carrier in the Middle East and among the first in the world to allow cadet pilots to complete their Base Training on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner under the supervision of an instructor as part of its Multi-Crew Pilot Licence (MPL) program.
Base Training flights are used to train cadet pilots on take-off and landings under the supervision of a qualified instructor. After this step, the cadet pilots will further progress their training on the most efficient and advanced wide-body aircraft on the market, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The program provides pilots with structured training tailored to meet the requirements of the airline and its aircraft and operational environment. It includes theoretical knowledge and simulator training, as well as flight training with some of the most experienced instructors on this aircraft type.
Mr. Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer at Etihad Airways, commented that “Etihad’s UAE national cadet pilots are the first to complete this significant milestone on one of the world’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner MPL programs.”
“This achievement is a testament to Etihad’s commitment to continuously invest in and develop our UAE national talent by adopting training methodologies. Through this programme, Etihad’s cadet pilots will receive the most advanced training in commercial aviation as we prepare for our continued growth in 2023 and beyond,” Mr. Al Bolooki added.
The base training flight was successfully flown by Second Officers Mr. Aya Saleh Alaudhli and Mr. Abdulla Rasheed Alsheebani, under the supervision of Captain Suraj Weerasekera.
Mr. Alaudhli stated that “thanks to our leadership and their belief in Emirati women, I am proud and privileged to be in the first batch of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner MPL programme that Etihad has successfully pioneered.”