UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways has become one of the first airlines in the world to have pilots qualified to fly the Airbus A350 and A380 aircraft seamlessly.
This milestone came after extensive training, and the airline obtained all necessary regulatory approvals.
Airline pilots generally only operate one aircraft type, but specific conditions can change that dynamic.
“Mixed Fleet Flying” (MFF) programs require rigorous approval from aircraft manufacturers and Civil Aviation Authorities.
MFF ensures significant similarity between an aircraft’s flight deck design and pilot procedures.
Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer at Etihad Airways, elaborated on the significance:
This achievement will enhance the resilience and flexibility of the airline’s network and is testament to our commitment to continuously push the boundaries of efficiency, innovation, and customer satisfaction, and at all times ensuring safety is Etihad’s number one priority.
Over the past decade, Etihad has obtained similar approvals for its Airbus pilots to interchangeably fly the A320 and A330 types, A330 and A340 types, and its Boeing pilots to fly the 777 and 787 types.
This latest approval to fly both the Airbus A350 and A380 is expected to enhance further the efficiency and flexibility of Etihad’s widebody network.
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