Etihad's graduate success includes UAE's first female Emirati aero engineer

More than 450 people at the Al Raha Beach Hotel in Abu Dhabi, gathered to congratulate the group of 63 UAE National graduates - cadet pilots, graduate managers and engineering graduates - as the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, presented each graduate with a certificate marking their achievement.

As well as the 38 cadet pilots, 19 graduate managers and six engineer graduates from the UAE, an additional 26 graduating cadet pilots of other nationalities were recognised during the ceremony.

James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “It is a proud day for all of us at Etihad to see so many of our Emirati trainees graduate.

“It is vital for our airline to invest in training ‘home grown’ Emirati talent, ensuring they are ready and fully equipped to move into our staff ranks. I wish them all the very best of luck in their careers with Etihad Airways and look forward to witnessing the great accomplishments they will achieve for our airline.

“As the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, we are committed to having talented Emiratis, both men and women, working in all fields - not only in the UAE, but in our outstations across the Etihad network.”

The cadet pilots, who have completed an 18 month training course, have now joined the airline as Second Officers.

The engineering graduates - each of whom has been awarded a Diploma of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering - commenced their training in December 2007 in the UAE and continued on to Brisbane, Australia, where they completed theory training at Aviation Australia.

Media at the event focused on one particular engineer - Fatima Bafaraj   became the first female Emirati to qualify as a trainee engineer with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways.

The 23-year-old was quoted in today’s Gulf News as saying "It feels very special; I am very proud of my achievement. It has been a tough journey and I am relieved to be coming towards the end of my studies; I am looking forward to getting on with the practical side of the job.

"I never really dreamed of becoming an engineer; it was just something that kind of grew on me. I found engineering just as interesting as anything else I studied and now I just want to finish and get my licence. My family has been very supportive and my fellow male students have not been too bad with me, they know I could beat them in an engineering competition!”

Mr Hogan said: “This is a momentous occasion for Etihad,”

Two groups of graduate managers, who have completed an 18 month training program, are in the process of being are being placed in various departments across Etihad’s network including positions at  outstations in Casablanca, Munich, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur and Doha.

The Etihad Airways Emiratisation Program offers a wide range of training opportunities for UAE nationals, including an English language training program in addition to the programs for cadet pilots, technical engineering and graduate managers.

PICTURED:  James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways with Etihad graduate managers, engineering graduates and cadet pilots at graduation ceremony in Abu Dhabi.