AZAL ranks among leading airlines investing in long-term pilot training

The main priorities for Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) are ensuring flight safety, strengthening operational resilience, raising the professionalism of local pilots, and the phased modernization of the fleet, Farid Panahov, Head of AZAL's Flight Crew Training Center, said in response to Report's inquiry.

According to him, based on AZAL's long-term development strategy, the target is to have more than 50 aircraft in the fleet by 2032. It was also noted that the fleet is planned to be expanded with 8 new aircraft this year, and this growth will continue dynamically in the coming years.

"The continuous expansion of the fleet, in turn, creates a need for the systematic training of pilot crews. To this end, programs for training local pilots in accordance with international standards and upgrading their qualifications are being implemented. Graduates of the National Aviation Academy are being recruited on a rotational basis to participate in flight training at the Flight Crew Training Center, established in 2024 and operational since last year, located at Gabala International Airport. Currently, 25 pilots are participating in the indicated training programs," Panahov emphasized.

The head of the center noted that, considering the company's rapid development, some of the graduates are being sent to foreign training centers: "In particular, 65 pilots who graduated from the National Aviation Academy are currently enrolled in international training programs in Türkiye, and they are planned to return to the country and begin their professional careers by the end of 2026."

In addition, it is planned to send another 35 graduates of the academy to Spain for training purposes in April 2026. Graduates who successfully complete the training programs conducted abroad obtain a "type rating" certificate confirming their pilot qualification for the respective aircraft type. The training programs cover theoretical preparation, simulator exercises, examination stages, and practical flights. All expenses related to pilot training are covered by the company.

"AZAL is one of the leading airlines that makes long-term investments in pilot training. We both nurture academy graduates and recruit foreign pilots in accordance with operational requirements to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the fleet," Panahov noted.

Currently, foreign pilots, who make up 15% of AZAL's total pilot crew, work alongside local pilots, contributing to the exchange of experience and the faster development of professional skills.

Panahov also stated that training local pilots in accordance with international standards is one of the company's main strategic directions: "The formation of a professional pilot crew and the modernization of the fleet are carried out in parallel. Young pilots' working together with experienced captains creates additional opportunities for the development of their skills."

The head of the center noted that the full-crew operation of each aircraft requires 10-12 pilots: "This necessitates increasing the number of pilots as the fleet expands. The current pilot crew of nearly 280 is planned to be increased at least twofold by 2032. Taking this into account, it is necessary to increase the number of local pilots and simultaneously recruit foreign pilots to ensure the uninterrupted execution of flights."