One of the key steps to remove Armenian aviation from the European Union’s "blacklist" is to equip the country’s Civil Aviation Committee (CAC), which regulates and controls the sector, with qualified personnel.

Air carriers registered in Armenia were placed on the “blacklist” (officially called the EU Air Safety List) in June 2020. European regulators said they weren’t satisfied with steps Armenia has taken to comply with E.U. safety standards.

However, other players in the sector, including airlines, also lack qualified personnel.

There is only one approved training organization (ATO) in Armenia. Aviatraining Center CJSC trains aviation professionals in accordance with international standards.

The Center offers classes in aviation management, air traffic control and technical maintenance of aircraft.

Classroom for engine maintenance

Classroom for engine maintenance

The Center hasn’t trained pilots for quite some time. Private organizations and individuals are currently trying to fill this gap. We’re talking about declared training organizations (DTO). These are the organizations or legal entities that submit a declaration to the CAC regarding training programs to be implemented by them, and if approved, they have the right to train aviation professionals. DTO’s don’t receive a certificate from the CAC but are constantly under its supervision.

DTOs only train pilots for general aviation. These are private, not commercial pilots. In any case, getting a private pilot license (PPL) is the first step to becoming a pilot (private pilots are not licensed to conduct commercial activities, simply put, they only fly for their own needs).

Hetq, in 2023, wrote that the "Skymaster" aviation school LLC is training general aviation pilots in Armenia.

Currently, according to the CAC, only pilot Davit Sargsyan (through his private entrepreneurship) carries out such activities. We had occasion to write about Sargsyan before. Sargsyan told Hetq that he received the right to conduct training from the CAC in May 2023. The flight training of private pilots is carried out with the Slovenian-made Pipistrel Virus SW100 plane (1 pilot + 1 passenger). Manufactured in 2012, the plane was transferred to Armenia in the fall of 2022, but is still registered in the German aircraft registry (German registration: D-EYFF).

Pipistrel Virus SW100 plane in Zvartnots International Airport (on right)

As for why this aircraft has not been registered in Armenia, Sargsyan says local legislation does not have a registration procedure for ultralight aircraft weighing up to 600 kg. But the German registration of the aircraft has certain advantages. Since it is registered in the E.U., students can get a European certificate (EASA PPL) in addition to the Armenian private pilot certificate. Sargsyan has such students. The instructor of new pilots is a specialist invited from Germany.

Sargsyan says the private pilot training program takes about one year. The theoretical part is 100 hours, the flying part is 45 hours. In mid-March, when we talked with Sargsyan, two of his students had already completed the program and were waiting to take the final exam. 

Sargsyan has built an takeoff and landing platform in Mrgastan, a village in Armenia’s Armavir Province.

Mrgastan takeoff and landing platform

According to Armenia’s Law on Aviation, a takeoff and landing platform is a land or water area intended for takeoff, landing, taxiing and parking of general aviation or non-regular domestic commercial transportation aircraft (airplane, helicopter). This means they cannot be used for international flights or domestic scheduled commercial flights. In addition, only aircraft whose maximum take-off weight does not exceed 3,000 kg can operate on these platforms and must obtain an operating permit from the CAC.

The CAC told Hetq that as of March 5, no legal entity or individual had received such permission. Sargsyan confirms that he does not yet have a permit, but the work of preparing the platform is almost finished, which will be followed by applying to the CAC for an operation permit. But not having permission is not an obstacle to operate the platform. The point is that the provisions of the current order do not apply to the platforms that the commander of the aircraft chooses from the air for a one-time landing. According to Sargsyan, Mrgastan, is currently being operated on this principle. In addition, the provisions of the above-mentioned order do not apply to those platforms where the number of take-offs and landings performed annually does not exceed thirty.

As stated, DTOs only train general aviation pilots who fly private flights. To engage in commercial activity, these pilots must "step up" and obtain a commercial pilot license (CPL). Pilots working for airlines have an airline transport pilot license (ATPL).

Currently, one cannot obtain CPLs and ATPLs in Armenia. Thus, foreign educational institutions "come to the rescue". Such institutions and the documents issued by them are subject to recognition (validation) by the CAC.

In March, the CAC sent Hetq the following list of foreign aviation training institutions it recognizes. These are the organizations whose documents (regarding education, training) are accepted by the RA Civil Aviation Committee as a basis for certifying Armenian aviation specialists.

Top photo: Bloomberg News, others from Facebook