
Lennuakadeemias viibis tudengite lennupraktika
Flight Practice of Students at the Aviation Academy
Lennuakadeemia lõpetab koostöö praeguse praktikapartneriga ja ei leidnud uut partnerit. Kool plaanis algselt ise lennupraktikat korraldada ja õppelennukeid osta, kuid otsustas lõpuks lennukid rentida.
The Aviation Academy is ending cooperation with its current practical training partner and has not found a new partner. The school initially planned to organize flight practice itself and purchase training aircraft but eventually decided to rent the aircraft.
For years, the Aviation Academy has had only one flight practice partner. In Estonia, apart from the academy and their partner, there are no other organizations that can provide professional pilot training. The contract with the current partner is ending soon. The school conducted tenders in spring 2024 and January 2025 to find a new partner, but no one met the requirements. Relying on only one partner creates risks. The school also considered organizing flight practice abroad, but it is expensive and risky. The school decided to organize the practice itself and purchase training aircraft but eventually canceled the tender.
Purchasing training aircraft would have taken a lot of time, and the prices could have changed. The school hoped to start the practice quickly with a fast procurement tender and get the aircraft at a favorable price. However, the preparation for the procurement tender was insufficient. The school canceled the tender to avoid long-term disputes that would further delay the practice. The school did this for the first time and is learning from the experience. The school organized a rental tender so that third-year students could start the practice. The rental tender was successful, and the students will start the practice in the spring.
Currently, a new rental tender is underway for second-year students. Fourth-year students have already completed their practice. The next students' flight practice on a single-engine aircraft will begin in May. The Aviation Academy is organizing it itself. The practice change affects students graduating in 2026 and those graduating later. The school still plans to purchase training aircraft. Renting training aircraft is the best solution for the future. In Estonia, there is not enough competition in the flight practice market, and there is only one certified provider.