Rector of the National Aviation Academy (NAA), Academician Arif Pashayev, met with visiting Lord John Alderdice, the United Kingdom's trade envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia.

The meeting was attended by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the United Kingdom 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.

Arif Pashayev warmly welcomed the guests and described the joint cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom in the oil and gas sector as a global model. The discussion highlighted the long-standing fruitful relations between British companies and AZAL, Silk Way Holding and the National Aviation Academy. Academician Arif Pashayev noted that when Azerbaijan began operating Boeing 757 aircraft in the 2000s, close cooperation was established between AZAL, NAA and the British company Rolls-Royce.

AZAL President Samir Rzayev spoke about close ties with the United Kingdom, noting that these relations are based not only on direct flights between Baku and London, but also on joint cooperation between Azerbaijani and British companies in managing flight safety, improving navigation systems and airport operational structures, maintaining aircraft airworthiness, and addressing other important issues.

Arif Pashayev then mentioned 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 the last two years, three more simulators from Acron Aviation (formerly Thales and L3 Harris) - for Boeing 777-200LR/F/300ER and Boeing 787-9 aircraft, as well as a Flat Panel Trainer (FPT) procedure simulator for the Airbus A320 - have been installed at the Academy. Of the eight flight simulators currently operating at NAA’s Training Centre, five belong to Acron Aviation. It was noted that the first international certification of NAA’s flight simulators was carried out by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. In addition, specialists from AZAL, Silk Way Holding and NAA have participated in training programmes in the United Kingdom for flight and technical personnel, instructors, engineers and professional English language teachers. The guests were provided with detailed information about the Academy’s infrastructure, international relations, faculties and departments, specialisations, students and graduates, scientific research and educational process.

The parties exchanged views on the development directions of Azerbaijani aviation, existing cooperation with the United Kingdom and future prospects.

The guests then visited the NAA Training Centre, where, together with representatives of Acron Aviation, they familiarised themselves with the training conditions created on the newly commissioned Boeing 787 simulator.