Azerbaijan-UK Aviation Partnership Highlighted During NAA Meeting
Baku, The Gulf Observer: Rector of the National Aviation Academy (NAA), Academician Arif Pashayev, held a meeting with Lord John Alderdice, the United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, during the latter’s official visit to Baku.
The meeting was attended by the UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fergus Auld, President of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) CJSC Samir Rzayev, British Embassy representatives Alex Tyrrell and Elvin Rzayev, NAA Vice-Rectors Adalat Samadov and Gulnara Ahmadova, and Director General of the Training Centre Agil Heydarov.
Rector Pashayev warmly welcomed the delegation and highlighted the exemplary cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom in the oil and gas sector as a global model. The discussion underscored the long-standing and productive relations between British companies and AZAL, Silk Way Holding, and the National Aviation Academy.
Academician Pashayev recalled that close cooperation was established with Rolls-Royce when Azerbaijan began operating Boeing 757 aircraft in the 2000s. AZAL President Samir Rzayev emphasized that ties with the United Kingdom extend beyond direct flights between Baku and London, encompassing collaboration in flight safety management, navigation system improvements, airport operations, aircraft airworthiness, and other key areas.
Pashayev further noted that in 2009–2010, flight simulators for Airbus A320, Boeing 757/767, and ATR 42/72 aircraft, produced by the British company Thales, were installed at NAA. In recent years, three additional simulators from Acron Aviation (formerly Thales and L3 Harris) – for Boeing 777-200LR/F/300ER, Boeing 787-9, and a Flat Panel Trainer (FPT) procedure simulator for Airbus A320 – have been commissioned. Of the eight simulators currently operating at the NAA Training Centre, five are from Acron Aviation. The first international certification of NAA’s flight simulators was conducted by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
The meeting also highlighted the participation of specialists from AZAL, Silk Way Holding, and NAA in training programs in the United Kingdom for flight and technical personnel, instructors, engineers, and professional English language teachers.
During the visit, the delegation was provided with comprehensive information on the Academy’s infrastructure, faculties, departments, specializations, students and graduates, scientific research, and educational processes. The parties exchanged views on the development of Azerbaijani aviation, current cooperation with the United Kingdom, and future prospects.
The delegation concluded their visit with a tour of the NAA Training Centre, where, together with representatives of Acron Aviation, they observed the training conditions on the newly commissioned Boeing 787 simulator.
