As part of the implementation of ICAO’s Global Ambassadors Program aimed at promoting aviation careers among young people and building a sustainable talent pipeline for the industry, the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan organized an introductory visit to Astana Airport for top-performing school students and winners of academic competitions from the capital. The event was held in line with international initiatives to engage the younger generation in aviation, including ICAO’s Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) program.

The meeting was attended by Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee, Saltanat Tompiyeva, who was appointed an ICAO Global Ambassador in January this year. Also sharing their experience and speaking about aviation careers were Faate Bogdashkin, Director General of the RSE “Kazaeronavigatsiya,” and Beken Seidakhmetov, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC “Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport.”

“Involving young people in aviation is an investment in the sustainable future of the industry. Through such practical events, we not only introduce children to various professions but also inspire them to become part of the global aviation community. The ICAO NGAP program and the Global Ambassadors initiative create a solid foundation for training a new generation of professionals,” noted Saltanat Tompiyeva.

During the visit, specialists from Air Astana demonstrated the operation of aviation simulators, allowing students to experience realistic flight conditions, and explained procedures for handling emergency situations. Participants also visited an aircraft and familiarized themselves with the structure of the cockpit.

Airport service staff demonstrated the work of fire and rescue units, and the students also observed canine service operations.

“It was very interesting to see how everything works in real life. I liked the simulator the most—it felt like I was a real pilot! My classmates felt the same way; some of them even started considering a future career in aviation,” shared Aruzhan Akhpanbetova Maksatovna, a 9th-grade student at the capital’s Physics and Technology Lyceum.

Such events open up the previously unfamiliar world of aviation to school students, broadening their horizons and demonstrating how diverse and promising a career in the aviation industry can be.