Ethiopian Hires 18 Pilot Graduates - 15 January, 2009

The Ethiopian Aviation Academy graduates 20 trainee pilots that have completed the commercial pilot course with Instrument and Multi-Engine Ratings. Among the graduates 18 are fully sponsored by Ethiopian and 2 young women pilot trainees are self sponsored.

In the two years training, the group has taken 1000:00 hours of class instructions and 250:00 hours of practical flight training both on single and multi-engine training aircraft. As part of the pilot training package, every emphasis is made to inculcate responsibility, high level of discipline as well as meeting the safety standards of Ethiopian Airlines.

Today’s graduates will bring the total number of graduates from the Ethiopian Aviation Academy to 842, out of which 541 are Ethiopian and 301 foreigners from different countries mainly from Africa, the Middle East and a few from Asia and Europe.

CEO of Ethiopian, Ato Girma Wake, with the graduates

Ethiopian sponsored pilots will immediately be assigned to their posts with Ethiopian

About Ethiopian

Ethiopian Airlines, www.ethiopianairlines.com, one of the largest and fastest growing airlines in Africa made its maiden flight to Cairo in 1946. The airline currently serves 53 destinations around the globe, 33 of which are in Africa.

In 2008 Ethiopian was the proud recipient of the Corporate Achievement Award from Aviation & Allied Business, the Brussels Airport Marketing Award on its long haul service, and Best Airline in Africa from the Africa Travel Award-Nigeria.

In 2006 and 2007 Ethiopian also won awards as the African Airline of the Year 2006, Africa Business of the Year 2007 and Ghana Business and Financial Award 2007 from the African Aviation, the African Times/USA and the Government of Ghana respectively for its outstanding performance in the commercial air transport industry.

Ethiopian will be the first carrier to operate the 787 Dreamliner in Africa, the Middle East and Europe