An agreement that paves the way towards the certification of the European EASA

In a significant move for the Emirate’s civil aviation, Emirates Flight Training Academy (EFTA) has entered into a strategic partnership with Egnatia Aviation, one of Europe’s leading flight training organisations, headquartered in Greece. The partnership marks a whole new chapter in Efta’s international role, as it positions the academy on track to achieve European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) accreditation in early 2025.

Easa certification in the aviation sector is recognised worldwide. The certification is mandatory to fly aircraft registered in Europe or to work for European air carriers, and opens the door to great career opportunities around the world. All ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot) licence holders applying for an Easa licence must complete the Multi-Engine Instrument Rating (ME/IR) at an Approved Training Organisation within the European Union. Through the partnership, Efta international students can undertake the additional 10-hour programme with Egnatia Aviation in Greece.

After graduating from EFTA, these new pilots will receive both a GCAA (United Arab Emirates Civil Aviation Authority) license and an EASA license. Once EFTA receives EASA approval, the academy will incorporate the agency-approved curriculum into both the ground and flight school programs.

Obtaining EASA accreditation represents a huge opportunity for EFTA, which aims to expand globally and attract a wider audience.

Located in Dubai South, the Emirates Flight Training Academy was launched by Emirates in 2017, initially to train UAE nationals, and later international students, to become pilots. The Academy combines cutting-edge learning technologies and a modern fleet of 32 training aircraft to train students with no prior flying knowledge. The EFTA fleet consists of 32 airplanes: 20 Cirrus SR-22 G6 single-engine piston aircraft, 5 Diamond DA-42NG multi-engine piston planes, 2 Gamebird GB-1 for dizziness prevention and recovery training, and 5 Embraer Phenom 100-EV light jets.

Efta’s State-of-the-art facility, the size of 200 football pitches, boasts 36 modern classrooms, six 6-axis full-motion flight simulators, a stand-alone air traffic control tower and a dedicated 1,800-metre runway with its own instrument landing system.