Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan Airlines and the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation signed an agreement in Baku on November 27.

The document was undersigned by General Director of Eurocontrol Frank Brenner and AZAL First Vice-President Sabir Ilyasov.

The parties agreed to coordinate air-traffic control activity through the creation of an international system to manage air-traffic flow.

This coordination will ensure the most efficient use of the airspace and harmonize any other measures necessary to ensure the safe and orderly flow of air traffic.

Ilyasov informed the guests about the activity of AZAL, development of the aviation in Azerbaijan, new terminals built in recent years, expansion and strengthening of the airline’s fleet, development of a network of air links with many countries of the world.

Brenner, for his part, said Azerbaijan is an important partner for Eurocontrol.

He expressed his admiration with the level of development of the navigation system in the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, noting that Azerbaijan has an exceptional geographical situation for flights between Europe and Asia, and for transit.

“I see a great potential for cooperation with such rapidly developing country as Azerbaijan,” said the General Director, noting that the air navigation system in Azerbaijan meet modern European standards.

AZAL Vice-President Arif Mammadov, commenting on the deal, told journalists that Eurocontrol uses advanced technology and thanks to the agreement, these technologies and programs will be available to Azerbaijan.

“Azerbaijan’s airspace will be used more efficiently. Eurocontrol will help us in drawing up plans for aircraft operations and distributing these plans in all European countries for the whole route,” said the vice president.

Before the signing ceremony, Eurocontrol delegation familiarized with the building of the main air traffic control center, visited the halls for ground and air flight control, the department of aeronautical meteorology.

The guests also visited the National Aviation Academy, familiarized with the Training Center of the Department of Air Navigation, and visited the training class, where pilots, flight attendants and dispatchers are trained, familiarized with the Museum of the Azerbaijani Civil Aviation.

Eurocontrol was founded in 1960 with the main aim of developing a pan-European air traffic management system in the framework of the Single European Sky project. The organization is working on a seamless pan-European air-traffic management system. Currently it includes 41 countries, with headquarters in Brussels.

Azerbaijan Airlines is a major air carrier and one of the leaders of the aviation community of the CIS countries, with the newest airplane fleets, consisting of 25 airplanes. The airline flies to 40 destinations in 19 countries and transported more than 1.8 million passengers in 2014.

Azerbaijani civil aviation aircraft fully meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, and AZAL is a member of the most prestigious civil aviation association - the International Air Transport Association.

AZAL received a prestigious "4 Stars" from the leader in air transport research, the world-famous British consulting company Skytrax in June 2015.