Emirates has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)’s commercial and training arm, the International Aviation Consulting and Training (IACT) at the Dubai Airshow, to curate bespoke training solutions for employees working across the airline’s engineering departments.

The MoU was signed by Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Director General UAE GCAA and Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer. Under the agreement, both parties will facilitate training for the airline’s employees working across Emirates’ engineering departments at the GCAA’s International Aviation Consulting and Training (IACT) and Emirates’ engineering facility.

Al Suwaidi, said: "This MoU underscores our joint commitment to ensuring excellence and safety in aviation. This cooperation is in line with the UAE government’s directives to collaborate with stakeholders to combine our strengths and achieve our common objectives more effectively and efficiently. We will continue exploring all possible areas of collaboration within the industry."

Adel Al Redha said: "This new MoU will further enhance the longstanding partnership between Emirates and GCAA, as both parties join resources to build a talent pool of competent and highly-skilled aviation professionals, equipped with world-class qualifications and competitive skills to contribute to the organisation and the UAE aviation industry."

The collaboration will ensure Emirates’ consistent compliance with the dynamic changes in GCAA’s regulations through the customised trainings provided by IACT for the airline’s employees in technical areas and certifications including GCAA General Civil Aviation airworthiness related regulations, manufacturing, Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC), Maintenance Organisation Review Certificate (MORC), Post Holders and Compliance Monitoring.

Emirates and IACT will also work together to identify unique approaches to further elevate Emirates’ Engineering training standards and equip the airlines’ employees with additional tools that support their career development.

Emirates Engineering Training is approved to conduct both types – EASA and GCAA – and basic GCAA training using Distance Learning Training Synchronous (DLS) methodology. The teams use cutting-edge training tools and digital learning platforms – including DLS – to offer numerous programmes and initiatives tailored to meet the ever-changing regulatory landscape of the aviation industry.

At Emirates Engineering, aircraft maintenance and engineering work are largely done in-house through an experienced workforce that is fully qualified to manage and implement all aspects of maintenance, engineering, quality, planning and logistics.

Setting high benchmarks for the industry, Emirates Engineering employees also occasionally support the fleets of thirty other airlines through third-party maintenance contracts at Emirates’ engineering facility.