Will Fly Bombardier Q400 NextGen Aircraft

QAZAQ Air reports that the first of their Kazakh pilots have been released to fly their Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft after successfully completing their conversion training onto this aircraft type.

From the very beginning of the Airline, QAZAQ Air’s management wished to attract local pilots to join the Airline. However, at that time, there were no local pilots qualified to fly their aircraft, a new aircraft type in Kazakhstan. In the autumn of 2015 the process of recruiting and training experienced Kazakhstani pilots was started. In 2016 these pilots were sent to leading international flight training centres in Europe for their ratings on the new aircraft type.

Last month, after passing all the required courses, two Kazakhstani pilots of QAZAQ Air received permission to act as co-pilots and one became the first Kazakh captain of the Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft. Currently, another 13 Kazakh pilots are finalizing their line training program, at the successful completion of which, they too will also fly as co-pilots.

“This is a great moment for our company. Introducing a new aircraft type into a country is always a challenge. We had to start our operations with 100% foreign pilots, but now our training program for Kazakh pilots and engineers of Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft is starting to bear fruit," said BlAir Treherne Pollock, CEO of QAZAQ Air. "We wish our first group of newly type rated Kazakh pilots a long and happy career flying for QAZAQ Air."

The fleet of QAZAQ Air consists of three comfortable turbo-prop Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft with 78 seats each not older than 2 years. 

(Source: QAZAQ Air news release)

FMI: www.flyqazaq.com/en