National Flight School Opens, Minister Nufi Calls It a Strategic Step in Modernising the Air Force

Minister Nufi describes the opening of the National Flight School as a strategic step in modernising the Air Force.
The National Flight School was launched at Rinas Air Base, signaling a major investment in the modernization of the Albanian Air Force. The school intends to train pilots, military personnel, and air traffic controllers in conformity with NATO standards.
At the inaugural event, which was attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, Minister of Defence Ermal Nufi described the school as a new strategic capability for national defence and security. He emphasized that it is a long-term investment in military personnel professional training as well as the improvement of Albania’s military aviation and air safety capabilities.
According to the minister, the school’s launch is part of a larger modernization of the Armed Forces, with an emphasis on human resource development, technical modernization, and the training of a new generation of defense specialists. He emphasized that the investment will assist increase the professional standards of pilots, military personnel, and air traffic controllers, while efforts are also underway to strengthen the Navy and Land Force’s training capabilities.
The National Flight School has been built in collaboration with Elbit Systems. Its facilities are outfitted with two Bell 505 training helicopters and will soon include a cutting-edge flight simulator to assist NATO certification. The training plan will last 18 months, with 12 months of academic instruction and six months of practical training. The inaugural intake consists of 25 cadets (18 military personnel and seven civilians), with the school’s goal of certifying five new pilots annually.