AZUR air opened its training center and launched full-flight Boeing 757/767 simulator at Vnukovo Aircraft Repair Plant No.400. This is the first and only training center in Russia for these aircraft types.
Many honorable guests attended the opening ceremony: Igor Chalik, Deputy Minister of Transport, Vladimir Izraelev, Head of Flight Operations Department of the Federal Agency for Air Transport, Evgeny Korolev, CEO of AZUR air, as well as Maxim Shishko, Commercial Aviation Director at Vnukovo International Airport. «We are happy to provide a site for the simulation center with the full-flight Boeing 757/767 simulator and to support our trusted partner AZUR air. It is hard to overestimate the importance of today’s event because pilot training is essential for passengers' comfort and flight safety. Professional crew training is a priority for Vnukovo. The oldest air company in Russia has accumulated vast experience in pilot training and retraining. Our team is ready to provide professional support in this matter as well. Without doubt, our cooperation is a win-win and it will also become our shared contribution to the development of the national civil aviation.
Full-flight simulator completely imitates the cockpit of Boeing 757/767 aircraft. Thanks to similar cockpit design it is possible to simulate both aircraft on a single simulator. It is achieved due to the unique software and components which change aircraft type depending on training needs. It is also possible to recreate flight trajectories thanks to a special mobility and visualization system. The simulator allows pilots to practice their flying skills at all flight stages as well as actions in emergency situations.
Evgeny Korolev, CEO of AZUR air, said: «Having our own full-flight simulator will ensure training of flight crews at AZUR air. On the one hand, this will allow us to reduce training costs as previously pilots were trained abroad by third parties. But more importantly, we will be able to control the training process. This will undoubtedly have a positive impact on flight safety.
The new training center along with the technical facility at Vnukovo base airport is one of the largest investment projects of the airline. In addition to the main hall, it has rooms for instructors, briefing rooms, as well as office and service rooms. This allows for a 24-hour pilot training process.
Vnukovo International Airport is one of the largest air transport facilities in Russia. The airport handles about 200,000 flights of Russian and foreign airlines annually. Its network covers the whole territory of Russia as well as near and far-abroad countries. In 2019, Vnukovo International Airport broke a historical record and served more than 24 million passengers. Vnukovo airport terminal with a total area of about 300,000 square meters is able to handle up to 35 million passengers per year. Vnukovo International Airport is the only airport in Russia to have received Letter of Commendation from the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin for labor achievements and high performance. Moreover, Vnukovo Airport was recognized as the Best International Airport by Air Gateway of Russia award at National Aviation Infrastructure Show (NAIS) for three consecutive years.
