Four Emirati students were recently treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Airbus Manufacturing Facility in Toulouse, France.

The students toured the final assembly lines for the best-selling A320 Family aircraft, the 21st century flagship A380 and the all-new A350 XWB jetliner. They also got a first-hand perspective from aerospace experts on how Airbus, as the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer, manages its production and assembly processes.

The students are in Toulouse as part of an induction visit organised by Airbus Middle East in partnership with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the UAE Ministry of Education.

Their visit underscores the MOU signed in May 2014 between Airbus Middle East and the GCAA to encourage young UAE nationals to pursue a career in the aviation industry.

Laila Ali Bin Hareb Al Muhairi, GCAA assistant director general of Strategy and International Affairs, said: “We are dedicated to renew the passion and appreciation for the aerospace industry amongst our talented Emirati youth. In cooperation with Airbus, we have opened up new horizons to inspire our creative students to enhance their knowledge in the aviation sector and within the fields of science, technology and engineering. The main goal is to motivate the young Emiratis to become involved in aviation and encourage them to seek career options in this vital sector.”

Hana Fayez Karkaba from the Ministry of Education said, “The outstanding experience provided by Airbus and GCAA will encourage the Emirati students to think and identify their careers paths at an early age thus filling any future job gaps in the UAE aviation sector.” She added, “The visit to the Airbus manufacturing facility was not only inspiring but also educational as the students can now identify the different types of aircraft, the processes it goes through at the final assembly lines, and more importantly the skills and abilities needed to build a career as an aerospace specialist in the aviation industry.”

Sharing her experience, Fatima Al Shemsi, one of the students on the tour, said “The visit to the Airbus manufacturing facility was an exquisite experience. We learnt about Airbus’ design innovations, market demands for new aircraft, how various components are built and how it comes together at the final assembly line in Toulouse. This whole experience has inspired us to build a future in aerospace and contribute to the UAE’s fast growing aviation sector.”

Airbus’ operations in Toulouse play a key role in shaping the future of air transportation. Located in the South of France, Toulouse is a key hub of Europe’s aerospace industry and home to Airbus’ headquarters.

It employs more than 21,000 people – around one-third of its total workforce – at its Toulouse facility.  Airbus also operates the Airbus Training Centre in Toulouse, which features eight full-flight simulators for all aircraft types, and provides training for flight crews, maintenance staff and cabin attendants, as well as performance and operational staff.  – TradeArabia News Service