New career takes off for Etihad's 100th cadet pilot

ABU DHABI // When Shareefa al Bloushi applied to join Etihad's pilot training programme, she was reluctant to let anyone involved in the selection process see her. "I'm short," said the 5ft 2in (1.57m), 24-year-old Emirati. Miss al Bloushi feared that her height, or rather lack of it, would immediately rule her out of a place. She need not have worried. When Miss al Bloushi expressed her concern to an adjudicator over the phone, it was met with laughter at the other end.

She is now in her fifth week of ground training, and is a special cadet - the airline's 100th. Miss al Bloushi has always been fascinated by aviation, but after spending several years working in information technology in the finance sector, believed it might be too late to change career. Eventually, however, she made the move: "I saw advertisements in the newspaper and decided I really wanted to do it.

"My parents encouraged me. They said, 'If this is what you want to do, just go for it.'" Her friends, though, "were very shocked. They never thought I would end up in aviation. While friends expected her to stay in IT, she says "there was something hidden in me" that wanted to be a pilot. After a month of medical and psychological tests, Miss al Bloushi was accepted into the programme earlier this year. "I worked hard for it and, thank God, I passed all the tests," she said.

Miss al Bloushi is on an 18-month programme at the Horizon International Flight Academy in Al Ain. It involves 750 hours in the classroom and 205 hours of in-flight training. Afterwards, she hopes to obtain her Airline Transport Pilots Licence and continue as a first officer. She will also have to pass the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority's exams. "Maybe at the end of this year I'll start flying. I can't wait for that," said Miss al Bloushi, who was raised in Abu Dhabi.

She is a member of Etihad's 10th class since the programme began in June 2007 and is one of six Emirati women to join. The first class graduated in February this year and its members are continuing their training aboard the airline's fleet. Etihad hopes to have up to 30 women, of all nationalities, serving as cadets and first officers within the next year. "The recruitment, training and development of cadet pilots is of the utmost importance to Etihad Airways and an integral part of maintaining our position as a leading global airline," Richard Hill, Etihad's chief operations officer, told the state-owned news agency, WAM.

"I always thought there were a lot of girls out there like me," said Miss al Bloushi. "In the last three years, there has been a big jump in the UAE. A lot of girls can now do a lot of different careers." And to those women who feel similarly adventurous, her message was: "It's time to go and explore all the things they thought they could not try." jgerson@thenational.ae

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A little about CVRL

Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.

One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.

The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)

Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi

Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi

Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai

Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi

Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
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Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.

As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.

Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.

Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.

Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."