Transport

Of all three Baltic States Lithuania is the most advanced in training pilots for commercial aviation. The Baltic Flight Academy (BFA) that started its activity in 2009 offers a fast service to the growing market – to qualitatively train professional pilots within approximately two years.

The activity of the Baltic Flight Academy is directed not so much towards the domestic market as towards foreign markets, especially those of the Eastern countries where the need for pilot requalification is rapidly increasing because the companies are updating their aircraft park and are moving to aircraft of western type. The Lithuanian school is appealing to the future pilots not only on account of a competitive price as compared with the Western countries but also because of the possibility to study not only in English but also in the Russian language there.

“Thus far there have been no possibilities to acquire all qualifications and skills necessary for an aircraft pilot in a single place in Lithuania in a complex way – up to being employed. These are entirely new prospects for young people to acquire a profession of a pilot”, says Director General of the Baltic Flight Academy Vaclovas Razgaitis. He has been an aviator “since his childhood”: he graduated from Aktyubinsk High School for Pilots, worked for Lithuanian Airlines – from a second in command pilot (B737-200, B737-300-900) to the Director of the Flying Department, was a member of the Board of the Air Company – at the present time is actively engaged in training pilots and sees great prospects in this business: “The need for professional pilots is felt in the market because aviation industry is growing at an incredibly fast rate”.

Study programmes
The Baltic Flight Academy offers airline trans-port pilot integrated training to those who start from the ABC. The aim of the programme is to train a pilot so that he could fulfil the duties of a second in command pilot (MPA) in commercial air companies. Having completed the integrated course of the airline transport pilot within 18-24 months, a pilot is issued a CPL(A) license (Commercial Pilot License) by the Civil Aviation Administration – the right to carry out flights according to equipment, to fly a single engine or multi engine aircraft, that is, to control such large planes as Boeing 737, Airbus 320, ATR42/72.

Having passed 9 PPL (Private Pilot License) examinations first, and having acquired a private pilot license, one has to study 650 hours of theory according to the programme and pass 14 examinations in the ATP course. The training includes the multi crew co-operation (MCC) course – theoretical, psychological and practical preparation without which a pilot has no right to work as a pilot in a crew. The aim of the modular ATPL(A) programme course is to train professional pilots who have the right to perform duties of the Crew Commander or a second in command pilot in commercial air transport aircraft.

At the Academy students are taught according to Oxford CBT (computer based training) programmes, which are recognised by united airlines requirements and are used all over Europe and in some other countries. “The quality of training, from the point of view of both teachers and the training base, is of a really high level. We use the material approved by Oxford Aviation Academy, which is one of the best in the world, and the teaching process is thoroughly considered. With the school expanding and the number of students growing, we are going to invite teachers from abroad – we have to make use of everything that is good, there is no need to “invent the bicycle”, says Vaclovas Razgaitis.

This programme is adapted to being studied individually and to being used during classes when the teacher is explaining everything at the blackboard. “Each student is learning at his own personal rate, going deeper into what is important to him. When questions arise and more detailed explanations are needed, teaching on the interactive blackboard is convenient and modern. The programme is easily understood and clear, and it is based on multiplication: students watch a flight on the board, they see lubricant flowing, and what device gets out of order, everything as in reality”, Aidas Matkevičius, teaching manager and instructor of the BFA responsible for the quality of studies, explains subtleties of learning.

Technology and Teachers
During the time of studies it is necessary to fly a certain number of hours: PPL –– 150 hours, later – another 204 hours, including 55 hours in a simulator.

Students learn on Cessna 152 and Piper 30 “Twin Comanche”. These are checked, reliable aircraft perfectly suited to training. Cessna 172 is rented for instrumental flight practice. At the present time negotiations over finding and purchasing two new aircraft are going on. Currently Paluknys Pilot Training Centre has full flight simulators of the highest class – DG level Boeing 737-500 and D level Boeing 737-800W NG. Stationary FNPT II MCC intended for practical training is excellent to learn flying according to the devices imitating emergency situations and the like. Models for aircraft ATR-42, Cessna 172, Beechcraft 200 “Super King Air” and Pipper 34 are installed in them.

BFA instructors and teachers are professional pilots, who have experience of flying B737-200, B737-300-900, B-757 and B-767, Airbus 320, SAAB-340, SAAB-2000, ATR-42/72 aircraft, and who have had training in Germany, England and the USA.

Training manager Jonas Noreika (pilot instructor for 36 years) sees to it that the activity and the structure of the Academy should be stable.

The chief flight instructor of the Academy is the experienced pilot Ugnius Paþûsis who has worked as An-2 instructor in military air forces.

Future pilots
Last May – June, the first students of these courses from Lithuania, Azerbaijan and Germany began to study. By now they have already completed PPL training, the final – flight – examination is to be taken with the CAA instructor Viktoras Kurbedis. The very first student was issued the private pilot license in November.

Currently, everybody is learning the English language – level 4 is required according to the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

“We devoted almost as much as twice more time to teaching theory to these students than the programme provided for”, says Aidas Matkevičius. “Air Companies often complain that pilots come to work with gaps in their knowledge. We became convinced that if you want to teach a pilot qualitatively, it is necessary to “cram” theory for three months. Furthermore, the PPL training programme does not provide for flights in a simulator, we provide our students with this possibility. Since we work with students individually, we devote as much time to studies as it is necessary”.

Selection to the Baltic Flight Academy is strict and is done especially thoroughly.

Karimov Farajagha, an 18 year old Azebaijan from Baku: “My father is an ATR 42/72 pilot with the Azerbaijan Air Company, and to be a pilot has always been my dream. I chose Lithuania because instructors here can speak Russia; if something is not clear they always help”.

Vladimir Filipovitch has been studying at the Academy since May. On 1 December he passed the flight examination and is resolutely determined to strive for the ATPL.

Dmitrij Kolesnitchenko, a 27-year-old student, after acquiring education of an economist in Moscow, decided to continue the dynasty of his family pilots. He looked through many schools in Europe and chose the most suitable one for him. “The good thing here is that the old Soviet school combines very well with a new European attitude and qualification. The possibility to have things explained in Russian, when you do not understand English, is very important because when you study this speciality you have to know everything exactly so that there should be no misunderstandings”, speaks Dmitrij and plans to complete the remaining course approximately within one year. Everything will depend on my abilities and concentration, and the work put into the studies.

The school is growing
Theoretical classes are already being conducted with the second group of students of the Academy too.

Jasmine Malhotra is a 20-year old resident of India. She is taught individually, and the girl is catching up with the Lithuanian who stared their studies in autumn. She has to learn some theoretical subjects and then the group will be joined. “My father is a pilot, and I constantly heard his stories about this kind of work. He told me about different situations and happenings. So there were no questions about what speciality I should choose”, says a small young girl with a smile and does not doubt that she will not only learn PPL but will also become a Boeing 737 pilot – will complete full course at the Baltic Flight Academy (a total of 2.5 years).

Both students and teachers unanimously state that the most important thing in “this matter” is motivation. “The staff of our edu-cational institution sees in which direction every young man could be directed in the future, but thus far all the students have done their best and made efforts to receive comprehensive qualitative education. We do everything to build up excellent reputation for our Academy, and aviation is a sphere where everything has to be done with the highest responsibility. Our goal is to train real professionals”, ensures us Vaclovas Razgaitis.