Etihad Airways First and Business Class Lounge Reception in Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal 1

Etihad Airways Offer Permanent Contracts to Pilots Seconded to Fly A380 and B787

Etihad Airways B787-9 Dreamliner (A6-BLA) lands in Singapore Changi Airport on 2 August 2015.
Etihad Airways B787-9 Dreamliner (A6-BLA)

Etihad Airways is offering pilots seconded from partner airlines the opportunity to transfer to permanent contracts when flying the airline’s A380 and B787 aircraft. This is part of the airline’s international expansion with its equity and non-equity partnerships.

The programme began in April 2013 when the first batch of seven airberlin Boeing 737-rated First Officers went to Abu Dhabi to start type conversion training on the Boeing 777 at Etihad Airways’ Flight Training Centre. To date, almost 200 partner airline pilots have been seconded to Etihad Airways including 52 from airberlin, 41 from Alitalia, 63 from Jet Airways, 25 from City Liner, four from Darwin Airline and six from NIKI. To date pilots who have transferred to permanent roles with the airline flying Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A380 aircraft include 21 former airberlin pilots.

Etihad Airways Airbus A380 (A6-APA) unveiled on 18 December 2014 at Etihad Airways' Hangar in Abu Dhabi.
Etihad Airways Airbus A380 (A6-APA) unveiled on 18 December 2014 at Etihad Airways’ Hangar in Abu Dhabi.

Seconded pilots undergo an extensive training programme that lasts from three to five months. After completing a two-week induction programme to get acquainted with Etihad Airways standard flight operating procedures, the secondees go through a three-week theoretical ground school training to gain technical skill required to proceed to a four week practical flight simulator training.  Trainees have to pass a simulator test to obtain their licence from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority which is the pre-requisite qualification to start line training and flying with certified instructors for a minimum total period of three weeks until they are declared competent to perform duties of an Etihad Airways pilot.

Pilots on secondment enjoy a much accelerated career progression path compared to other airlines. They have the opportunity to transfer permanently to a longer-term aviation career with the carrier.

The average time to command at Etihad Airways is in the range of three years while it takes at least 10 to 15 years to achieve the same position in most legacy airlines. Pilots have the opportunity for cross fleet transfers from Airbus to Boeing and narrow-body to wide-body aircraft, as well as progression to a wide range of roles including flight instructors, examiners, flight crew assessors and pilot management positions.

Etihad Airways also sends its own pilots on placements with partner airlines to expose them to new experiences and broaden their career opportunities. Four of its pilots have been seconded to Air Serbia, two to Air Seychelles, one to Jet Airways, one to Etihad Regional and one to Alitalia.

 

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  1. Pingback: Etihad offers pilots joining from partner airlines to fly B787 or A380

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