Students visit Etihad Airways Engineering to see firsthand engineering landscape

Etihad Airways Engineering, a commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, MRO, service provider of the Etihad Aviation Group, has opened its hangar doors to some of the UAE’s brightest minds as part of its drive to attract university students from different disciplines to consider a career in aerospace engineering.

Around 50 students from Khalifa University and Higher Colleges of Technology, HCT, in the UAE have visited the facility in the past few weeks. The visits provided students of diverse subjects, such as mechanical and computer engineering, with an opportunity to see first hand the engineering landscape in a professional working environment.

Jeff Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways Engineering, said, "There is a clear advantage for us in hiring graduates from different fields as each one brings with them a different perspective and expertise, all of which are required to fulfil our engineering needs.

"The technology on new-age aircraft is demanding to a point where a very high level of expertise is required to maintain and optimise them. This is critical to our success in being a world leading provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities."

Amani Al Balooshi, an industrial and systems engineering student in her final year at Khalifa University, said she joined the tour because she already had an interest in this sector. "I love my major because I can work in every field – aircraft, airport, manufacturing. We do a Modern Manufacturing course and it teaches you about processes in building and working to deliver engineered solutions that add value. Visiting here, I see how I can apply what I have learnt."

Nouf Khalil is a first-year preparatory student at Khalifa University. Visiting a hangar for the first time, she said she was impressed by the state-of-the-art facility. "It’s just great to come to a hangar to see how it all works. I have always been interested in engineering and, seeing this, has made me realise how interesting aerospace engineering really is."

As part of their visits, students were given an overview of Etihad Airways Engineering followed by a tour of the workshops and hangar facility, during which they were able to interact with both graduate and experienced engineers specialising in different areas of the business.

Young Emirati graduates interested in pursuing a career in the aviation industry have the opportunity to apply for a place on the Etihad Technical Graduate Engineering Programme. Launched in 2010, the programme currently hosts 300 UAE nationals who were all selected after extensive and rigorous assessments. Once fully qualified engineers, they become part of the Etihad Airways Engineering team.