Twenty-seven cadet pilots have graduated the Emirates Aviation college. At a ceremony, the airline's chairman, Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, presented certificates to the pilots, who successfully completed the flight training course at the University of Western Michigan (WMU) in the United States.
Shaikh Ahmed said, "Emirates is committed to the recruitment of UAE Nationals into its group of companies, spending some Dh40 million annually, and I am very pleased to see here today that this policy has proved fruitful." In July 2001, Emirates formed a partnership with BAE Flight Training Adelaide (BAFTA) to train its cadet pilots. The southern Australian city was chosen because of its year-round good weather conditions and the fact that Emirates operates direct flights to Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.