Uzbekistan and KAU Expand Pilot Training Cooperation

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 29 April, talks were held between Uzbekistan’s Minister of Transport Ilkhom Makhkamov and a delegation led by Hee Young Hurr, President of Korea Aerospace University (KAU), focusing on expanding cooperation in aviation education and pilot training.

Central to the discussions was the joint 1+2+1 educational program launched in 2023 at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The program is being implemented between Tashkent State Transport University and KAU and is aimed at training civil aviation specialists. The parties reviewed prospects for further expansion of the program and broader cooperation in the aviation sector.

Korea Aerospace University is one of South Korea’s leading specialized institutions in aerospace education and plays an important role in the country’s aerospace industry. The university has a modern research and training infrastructure, including a flight training center and a satellite control center, and cooperates with global companies such as Boeing, Airbus, and NASA.

During the talks, the KAU president presented proposals regarding the return in 2027 of Uzbek cadets currently studying in Korea, as well as the development of necessary infrastructure for their continued training.

The sides also discussed the provision of training aircraft and flight simulators. The Korean side expressed readiness to provide educational materials, textbooks, and specialized software for a planned flight school in Uzbekistan.

The possibility of involving qualified instructors was also discussed, as well as training Uzbek cadets at KAU with subsequent return to Uzbekistan as instructors. This approach, it was noted, would help reduce the overall cost of pilot training.

Since 2023, Uzbekistan has been implementing large-scale pilot training initiatives. Currently, five independent educational programs are in operation, involving 4,562 students, including those studying abroad in countries such as South Korea and Slovenia.

Pilot training is conducted in accordance with international civil aviation standards and includes both theoretical education and practical flight training on training aircraft.

At the initial stage, obtaining a Private Pilot License (PPL) is a key requirement, followed by further training and qualification for different types of aircraft.

Uzbekistan Airways Training Center is reported to have modern infrastructure for pilot retraining and professional development, including advanced simulators, and operates in line with international standards. At the early training stage, cooperation is also being developed with Slovenia’s Egmont Aviation Academy.

Both sides emphasized that cooperation with KAU is important for improving the quality of aviation education in Uzbekistan, introducing international standards, and training highly qualified flight specialists.