A new avenue for aspiring pilots
Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA) has created an opportunity for Bangladeshi students to train to be pilots there.
According to aviation experts, only one or two flying academies currently exist in Bangladesh. However, they don't have any modern facilities there.
In contrast, EFTA has the most advanced pilot training courses in the world at its academy in Dubai, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and flight training in advanced multiengine aircraft.
EFTA is offering a 21-month cadet pilot course, which a Bangladeshi student can avail of with the cost of around Tk 2 crore, Capt Abdulla A Al Hammadi, EFTA vice president, disclosed this information recently at a media briefing at his office in Dubai.
Emirates arranged a trip for aviation and tourism reporters from five media houses in Bangladesh to get a first-hand experience about the operations of the airlines, flight training academy and SkyCargo facilities of the airlines.
Located in proximity to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South, the main building features 36 interactive classrooms equipped with software designed by Boeing specifically for EFTA, while its flight operations centre provides cadets with complete hands-on training with the latest equipment and technology.
Capt Hammadi said since 2019, EFTA was opened for students from all countries, including Bangladesh.
Around 300 cadet pilots from 16 countries are receiving training at the EFTA at present against the capacity of 600 students.
"If Bangladesh wants, EFTA can help Bangladesh's flight academy for its improvement," said Capt Hammadi.
Capt Hammadi said any Bangladeshi students who passed from A level with mathematics and physics as mandatory subjects can apply for receiving training from EFTA.
Hammadi also mentioned that the FTA has a 1,800-metre runway, along with five aircraft simulators and 50 experienced flight and ground instructors. The runway is capable of accommodating over 400 flights a day. There is also an air traffic control tower dedicated to the usage of its trainee pilots in EFTA.
There are at least 27 aircraft under EFTA, including Cirrus SR22 G6, which is the backbone of the EFTA fleet.
The Cirrus SR22 G6 incorporates a modern composite airframe; two large 12" flight displays, and a flight management system, making it an ideal choice for ab-initio pilot training. The Emirates Flight Training Academy fleet includes 22 Cirrus SR22 G6 aircraft.
Besides, EFTA has five Embraer Phenom 100EV aircraft. An evolution of the Phenom 100 business jet, which is considered an obvious choice by airlines for preparing cadets for multi-engine jet operations, the Phenom 100EV incorporates three interchangeable glass displays -- state-of-the-art avionics, smart automation systems, and graphical flight planning capabilities.
"The training begins with two weeks of classroom-based instruction on the Cirrus SR22 G6 aircraft, followed by more than 196 hours of simulator and aircraft flying instruction. After which a trainee will be ready to take the Commercial Pilot License (CPL) flying skills test," added Capt Hammadi.
"Our continuously advancing technology and progressive curriculum empower cadets to go beyond the extraordinary and become world-class pilots," Hammadi said.
He said their fully-operational flight operations centre is dedicated to EFTA cadets only, making flight training part of everyday life at the academy.
"This implies that you will have the opportunity to gain a complete operational experience in one holistic environment," he added.
The Emirates started its journey in 1985 when it launched operations with only two aircraft. Today, Emirates flies the world's biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s.
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