Etihad Aviation Training signs deal with Israir Airlines for pilot training

Paolo La Cava, Etihad Aviation Training’s managing director and vice president (Left) and Israir Airlines’ chief executive Uri Sirkis while signing the agreement. Courtesy EAT

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Aviation Training (EAT) teamed up with Israir Airlines for full-flight simulator pilot training for Israeli carrier’s  Airbus A320 pilots.

Under the agreement, the Tel Aviv-based carrier will dry lease EAT’s full-flight simulators at the Abu Dhabi training facility. The training will be conducted by Israir instructors.

In a dry lease arrangement, the aircraft or simulator owner provides the aircraft and other equipment to the lessee without crew.

“Following Etihad’s announcement to commence services to Tel Aviv, EAT is delighted to further commercial opportunities with Israel by providing comprehensive aviation training services to Israir Airlines,” Paolo La Cava, EAT’s managing director and vice president, said.

EAT, which is one of the largest training facilities in the Middle East, offers airline training, cabin crew safety training, instructor training, cadet programmes and aircraft maintenance training.

“Continuing our commitment to providing highly skilled pilots by offering ... training facilities, EAT is looking forward to working with Israir Airlines and is anticipating further collaboration with the airline to cement this landmark agreement,” Mr Cava said.

A number of pacts have been signed between the UAE and Israel to foster co-operation in sectors ranging from aviation to finance after they signed the Abraham Accord in September.

Prior to ratifying the accord, Israir Airlines’ chief executive Uri Sirkis met Mr Cava and Tony Douglas, group chief executive of Etihad Aviation Group.

“The short visit revealed to me a rare opportunity to use the EAT simulator facility, just a three-hour flight away from Israel.”

“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,” said Mr Sirkis.

EAT, which has partnered with over 40 airlines, offers pilots complete flight training devices including Airbus and Boeing full-flight simulators, fixed training devices and flight navigation procedures.

The UAE and Israel recently signed an air transport agreement to allow airlines to introduce commercial flights between the countries.

Etihad Airways said it will commence daily services between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv from March 28.

On October 19, Etihad became the first Gulf carrier to operate a commercial passenger flight from Abu Dhabi to Israel. On November 8, flydubai followed suit to operate its first commercial flight to Israel from Dubai.

In November, Etihad Airways and Israel's national carrier El Al signed a memorandum of understanding to introduce codeshare services and further deepen co-operation amid growing transport links between the two countries.