Ethiopian Airlines Group has invested US$100 million to expand and upgrade its Aviation Academy in line with its vision 2025 strategic road map.
The expansion allows the Academy an annual intake capacity of 4,000 students, making it the largest and finest Aviation Academy in Africa.
The new Ethiopian Aviation Academy has many classroom buildings.
The technical block is housing the Pilot Training School and the Aviation Maintenance Training School; while the Commercial and Leadership block accommodates the Inflight Services Training School, Commercial and Ground Services School and Leadership School.
It also has separate Administration buildings, workshops, auditorium, students’ dormitory and large cafeteria. As Authorised Training Organisation (ATO), the B-777, B-787, B737, B-767/757 and the Q-400 full flight simulators enables the academy to offer full type rating trainings for pilots.
“Currently, the academy has the best aviation training technology like full range of fleet cabin emergency, evacuation and door trainers fitted with standard swimming pool for cabin crew ditching exercises and more than 20 pilot training aircraft, the finest expertise, dedicated and experienced instructors and a perfect environment for students,” a statement from the company said.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian, Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, said: “Education is the greatest equaliser in today’s global village. We are proud to be in a position to avail the latest and next generation aviation technology training machines and facilities where we can train the continent’s youth and prepare them for the 21st Century African Aviation development.”
He added that the Ethiopian Aviation Academy was positioning itself to be the catalyst leader in aviation training technology in supporting the African Union to realise its vision 2063.
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest and most profitable airline in Africa, is continuously expanding rapidly in the development of most departments.
The New Cargo Terminal, expected to be operational towards the end of 2016, will have an annual storage, for both dry and perishable goods, of 1.2 million tonnes with capacity to handle eight B747-800 freighters at any one time. Construction of just the first phase will cost about a total of US$150 million.
A four star hotel construction is a further development taking place at Ethiopian Airlines.
The hotel, to be built on 40,000sqm located in front of Millennium Hall on Bole Road, will be operational in 24 months. The academy has been accredited by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as Authorised Training Centre (ATC).
It was also recognised as Airline Training Services Provider of the Year in 2014. It is certified by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, the US Federal Aviation Administration, the European Aviation Safety Agency and IOSA (International Air transport Association (IATA) safety Audit.
Source: Graphic