Air Astana launches AB-Initio pilot training scheme - airline invests in future of Kazakh aviation.

Thursday 27th November, 2008

Air Astana, the flag carrier of the Republic of Kazakhstan, has launched an ab-initio pilot training scheme to help meet its long-term flight crew requirements. After passing a thorough evaluation program over the past three months, the first group of eight local trainee pilots will commence a one-year flight-training course at the Commercial Airline Pilot Training Centre (CAPT) in the United States in early 2009. Upon successfully completing the CAPT course, the newly qualified pilots will return to Air Astana as first officers in 2010.

Air Astana currently employs 300 pilots to fly its fleet of 21 Airbus, Boeing and Fokker aircraft, but needs to recruit a further 300 pilots as the fleet grows over the next four years. By 2022, the Air Astana fleet is forecast to grow to 63 aircraft, which will result in another substantial increase in the number of pilots required by the airline.

“Air Astana is committed to a program of long-term fleet and network growth and it is critical that there are sufficient pilots to fly the new Airbus and Boeing aircraft arriving in the future. We are delighted to invest in the future of Kazakhstan aviation by launching the ab-intio flight training scheme in co-operation with CAPT and examining the feasibility of opening a flight training school in Almaty in the longer term,” said Peter Foster, President of Air Astana.

Air Astana is a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s Samruk State Holding (51%) and BAE Systems (49%). The airline commenced regular flight operations in May 2002 and currently operates a network that serves 25 domestic and 21 international destinations from its hubs in Almaty, Astana and Atyrau. Air Astana is a full member of the International Air Transport Association and is the only airline in Kazakhstan with EASA Part 145 aircraft maintenance certification.