national development critical to meet gulf pilot demand
Al Ain’s Horizon Academy Plans Dubai Airshow Recruitment Drive
Release date: 31st October 2007: More Than 8,000 commercial pilots will be needed over the next 20 years to satisfy demand from expanding Middle East carriers, holding up huge career opportunities for Gulf nationals, according to one of the UAE’s leading flight academies.
Horizon International Flight Academy (Horizon), which is based in Al Ain, the second-largest city in Abu Dhabi emirate, says massive fleet development among the region’s commercial carriers, including Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, is spurring demand.
“The only thing that can be done to meet the shortfall is to train more people for careers as pilots. The pilot profession is appealing more to Emirati youth including women who have begun to show an interest. Horizon is at the forefront of meeting this demand by offering internationally recognised flight instruction locally,” said Mohammed Humaidan Al Zaabi, General Manager, Horizon – which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Abu Dhabi government’s Mubadala Development Company.
“Aerospace experts are predicting the world’s aviation fleet will double to more than 35,000 aircraft by 2025, with three out of every five wide body aircraft delivered over the next 10 years going to the Middle East and Asia. The career potential for locals is huge.”
Horizon, which has over 90 percent UAE national enrolment, is now planning a major recruitment drive at the 2007 Dubai Airshow, which will be held from the 11-15th November at Airport Expo Dubai, to increase programme uptake rates and meet increasing demand.
“The Academy is noted for its rapid expansion and we will continue to keep up with the pace. Our expansion plans for the coming five years will see our capacity doubled,” added Al Zaabi.
“We offer the opportunity for students wishing to undertake cost effective pilot training courses that do not want to base themselves in the traditional European and North American training markets. With much of the new demand for pilots originating in the Middle East, it makes sense to train them here.”
Horizon, in conjunction with the UAE’s national carrier, Etihad, has also launched a joint initiative to train the next generation of local pilots. Targeting UAE nationals, between the ages of 18-30, students are groomed to become a First Officer for the airline, with extensive ground school and flying training with single and multi engine aircraft.
“The aim is to have regular intake of Etihad students joining Horizon to develop a cycle to feed the airline. We hope that this will go someway to encouraging the development of UAE national pilots and better meet market,” added Al Zaabi.
Industry training ranks high on the Middle East’s aviation agenda as the region develops its own indigenous aerospace sector which has led Dubai Airshow organisers, Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E) to expand, by 50%, the specialised training and simulation pavilion which successfully debuted at the 2005 show.
“Demand is such that the pavilion is now sold out with major names, including international training and simulation provider CAE and the diversified Emirates Link Group (Elite), which represents Stockholm’s SAS Flight Academy, Aviation Australia, Careflight and PHS Professional Helicopter Services,” explained Alison Weller, F&E’s Director, Aerospace Division. The training & simulation pavilion is being presented in co-operation with ETS News, the global magazine and website for aviation training industry.
The 2007 Dubai Airshow will be the biggest to date with up to 900 exhibitors expected from 50 countries – a 40% increase in participation on 2005 with more than a tenth of exhibitors being new-to-market. Growth at the Airport Expo has been accommodated via creative floor planning, including reduced aisle space and outdoor pavilions. Future growth will be accommodated by the planned 2009 move to the proposed purpose-built site at Dubai Exhibition World being built at Dubai World Central, the huge urban aviation complex currently underway at Jebel Ali, 30 kilometres outside Dubai city.
The Dubai Airshow is open to industry-linked visitors only. Visitor tickets have now gone on sale on-line at www.dubaiairshow.org. Online sales will cease on October 29th after which, tickets will be available from the box office at Airport Expo Dubai.
