Emirates to open Dubai flight academy

Emirates Airlines plans to open a flight academy in Dubai to meet the Gulf's growing demand for pilots.

Fast growing Emirates Airlines will train its next generation of pilots at a new academy in Dubai.

The airline is investing AED 400 million (US$108.9m) in the Emirates Flight Training Academy, which is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2013 with a capacity of 400 students per class. Students will be awarded a commercial pilot licence at the end of the intensive three year course and will be ready to continue advanced training in specific aircraft, the airline said.

Emirates group chairman and CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum said the flight academy marked the continued emergence of the Gulf region as a major flight centre and would help fill the growing need for pilots among the region’s carriers.

The academy will include classrooms, accommodation, ground based simulators and flight training.