Emirates and EFTA instructors take flight on World Teachers’ Day

World Teacher’s Day, celebrated on 5 October, highlights the invaluable and enriching role educators play in inspiring and influencing the future of humanity.

EFTA’s flight instructors are eligible to join Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, as a First Officer after completing five years in the training role. After these trainers are trained to fly the world’s largest and all wide-body fleet of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, they can expect to join the airline’s 4,400 strong pilot community – a golden opportunity which is a rarity for the industry.

Capt Abdulla Al Hammadi, Divisional Vice President at EFTA said: “We celebrate our flight instructors – who are among the most experienced and committed in the industry – on this World Teachers’ Day. They are the backbone of the academy and have a significant impact on shaping the personalities and success of our cadets. Not just on technical skills, but our instructors are inspirational mentors and coaches who impart soft skills such as leadership, situational awareness, decision making, adaptability and communication. Flight instructors have the distinction of fostering the next generation of pilots, one of the most highly prized roles in aviation.”

Muhammad Bilal Pasha, First Officer at Emirates is the first-ever flight instructor who transitioned to the airline. He said: “Being a flight instructor at EFTA was more than just teaching – it was about inspiring the next generation of pilots to chase their dreams with passion and resilience. As I now step into my role as a First Officer at Emirates, I carry with me the pride of watching those dreams take flight, knowing the sky is just the beginning. The opportunity for growth provided by EFTA has enabled me to grow my wings in commercial aviation. I will now see the world, thanks to EFTA and Emirates’ vast network.”

Ian Harrington, Deputy Chief Theoretical Knowledge at EFTA said: “At EFTA, we have the unique ability to mentor the future of aviation, not only through flight training, but through academic rigour that inspires the next generation of pilots to explore and conquer the skies. I feel proud to be a part of an academy that empowers its teachers.”

With Emirates’ and EFTA’s planned growth trajectory, both the airline and the academy are inviting experienced and passionate instructors to join their teams. EFTA currently has a strong team of 43 highly qualified flight instructors from 23 nationalities, while Emirates has a team of 520 from 53 nationalities.

EFTA is welcoming instructors who have a minimum of 700 hours, and a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) or Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) with a single engine class rating.