The Slovak Training Academy plans to complete the night training of pilots on UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters by May 20, 2021. Due to the experience of recent years, we increased the intensity of night training during the spring months so that night flights do not have to take place in the summer.

With this decision, the STA training center caters to the residents of the affected areas and undertakes not to train pilots on UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in the months of June, July and August this year after dark. In this way, the Aviation Academy responds to the request of the public as well as representatives of the city of Košice and other local governments that intensive night training is not carried out in the summer months, when nights are shorter and people have windows open due to heat.

“We are convinced that this form of concession and the expression of social responsibility on the part of our company will help mitigate the consequences of our activities on the inhabitants of municipalities and city districts near the International Airport in Košice. We believe that people will welcome this step and together we will spend a peaceful and undisturbed summer, “said Dominik Varga, CEO of STA.

At the same time, STA apologizes to the residents of the affected sites for temporary discomfort caused by night training. Our professional team of pilots and instructors does everything to ensure that the training ends within the specified period, but with an emphasis on air traffic safety.

We can assure the public that we provide pilot training in accordance with Slovak legislation as well as in accordance with applicable European aviation legislation. We also adhere to strict anti-pandemic measures and our activity was also in the time of the so-called “Lockdown” duly approved by the regional hygienist. Qualified training of helicopter pilots is our priority activity and thanks to that we employ hundreds of people in the Košice region and its surroundings. Our company behaves responsibly towards the inhabitants of the region in which it operates, which is why we regularly meet and discuss with representatives of the city of Košice as well as with other representatives of regional self-governments. We also took a number of measures last year to help mitigate the effects of our training activities. Our pilots fly higher than the standard, we changed flight routes and stopped flying on a noisy Mi-17 helicopter. The effectiveness and usefulness of these measures have been repeatedly confirmed by the mayors of the affected districts, Pereš and Barca. Our company also plays a significant role in the education of new pilots for the needs of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic. Night training is an integral and specific part of pilot training and is one of the most challenging tasks performed by our professional team of instructors.