Etihad Cadet Pilot Programme
UAE national aged 18 – 29?
Join Etihad Airways’ renowned Cadet Pilot Programme and you won’t just learn to fly - you’ll help your country soar. With so much on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to launch a new career with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE. Make the world your home.
Applications now open.
Join Our Cadet Programme
Ready to Soar?
We’ve relaunched our Cadet Pilot Programme for 2024 as part of our commitment to nurturing Emirati talent and expanding the aviation industry in the UAE.
If you’re an ambitious UAE national aged between 18 – 29 who is ready to soar, we want to hear from you!
We’ll help you get your wings, but you will need:
- A passion for aviation
- A strong command of written and spoken English
- A high school diploma or higher with minimum overall score of 80%
- A minimum IELTS score of 5.5 or TOEFL of 510
- Completed or exempt from UAE National Service before the start date of the programme
What is the Etihad Airways Cadet Pilot Programme?
Our two-year Cadet Pilot Programme will be conducted in Abu Dhabi and Spain. Courses are compliant with aviation regulations and encompass a blend of theoretical and practical training.
Before being accepted, you’ll have to pass a series of assessments, including tests in English, maths, and physics, as well as psychometric evaluations and in-person interviews. You’ll also undergo a medical examination as required by the GCAA, the regulatory body of civil aviation in the UAE.
A commitment to the future
The Etihad Airways National Cadet Pilot Programme underscores Etihad’s commitment to investing in the development of Emirati talent, building a skilled workforce in the UAE and driving growth in the aviation sector. We plan to employ 600 Emirati Pilots by 2030.
And we have a record of achievements since the programme’s inception in June 2007.
More than 300 Emirati men and women have successfully graduated from the programme and started their flying careers. Of these, 239 are now First Officers, 44 are Second Officers and 60 are Captains.
And one of our graduates, Captain Aisha Al Mansoori, became the first female Emirati commercial captain.
Ready to let your career take flight?
Pay and Benefits
CADET PILOT
Phase I (2 years)
Pay: Stipend of AED 5,000 per month for UAE Nationals.
Benefits: Life insurance, medical insurance kicks in at Year 2 for UAE Nationals.
Phase II (4 to 6 months)
Pay: AED 16,667 per month (Basic pay and fixed allowances)
Benefits: Life insurance, medical insurance, staff travel tickets. In addition, to social and child allowance for UAE Nationals.
Phase III (4 years)
Pay: Starting at AED 24,000 per month (Basic pay and fixed allowances) with step increments for the next four years capped at AED 34,000 per month (Basic pay and fixed allowances).
Benefits: Life insurance, medical insurance, staff travel tickets. In addition, to social and child allowance for UAE Nationals.
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FIRST OFFICER
Pay: AED 39,853 per month (Basic pay and fixed allowances).
Benefits: Life insurance, medical insurance, staff travel tickets. In addition, to social and children allowance for UAE Nationals.
Vacation
Cadet pilots would start accruing vacation days after the completion of their first year of training. They are entitled to 22 to 42 vacation days depending on the phase (I, II, or III) they are in, and the terms and conditions laid out in their training contract.