Israeli airline pilots can now train on flight simulators in Abu Dhabi

Etihad Aviation Training (EAT), located in Abu Dhabi, has signed a contract with Israir Airlines to offer Full-Flight Simulator pilot training for Israir Airlines’ Airbus A320 pilots.

Israir will dry lease EAT’s Full-Flight Simulators at the training facility, with the training conducted by Israir instructors.

EAT’s services include airline training, type rating, cabin crew safety training, instructor training and cadet programmes, and aircraft maintenance training.

It is reportedly among the largest training facilities of its kind in the Middle East.

EAT has already partnered with over 40 airlines. At the Zayed Campus in Abu Dhabi, it offers pilots complete flight training devices including Airbus and Boeing full flight simulators, Airbus and Boeing Fixed Training Devices and Flight Navigation Procedures Training.

It has a training programmes across the the Airbus 320, 330, 340, 380 and Boeing 787 and 777 in addition to instructor, examiner and senior examiner courses.

“Close to the signing of the Abraham Accords peace agreement, I met Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group and Managing Director and Vice President of Etihad Aviation Training, Captain Paolo La Cava at Etihad Headquarters. The short visit revealed to me a rare opportunity to use the EAT simulator facility, just a three-hour flight away from Israel,” said Uri Sirkis, CEO of Israir Airlines.

“Beyond the economic and professional benefits, I believe that the more meeting points we find between the countries, the stronger the tourism movement will be. This is the true peace,” added Sirkis.

Etihad became the first non-Israeli airline in the Middle East to launch a dedicated website for the Israeli market in Hebrew last year following the signing of the Abraham Accords.

The Abu Dhabi-based carrier will launch daily scheduled year-round flights connecting Abu Dhabi-Tel Aviv starting March 28, 2021.

Apart from Israir, Etihad also signed signed an MoU with El Al Israel Airlines, the national carrier of Israel, in November to explore codeshare services between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv and also cooperation in its frequent flyer programmes.

Read: Abu Dhabi’s Etihad and El Al Israel sign MoU to cooperate on codeshare and loyalty programme