Apie tuos, kurių akyse – dangus

Abstract

Antano Gustaičio aviacijos instituto direktoriaus profesoriaus Jono Stankūno akyse – dangus. Trijų ežerų ir miško apsuptame profesoriaus vaikystės kaimelyje Aukštaitijoje, Pakenėje, netrukdomai buvo matomas tik dangus. Tame danguje – su viršgarsiniu trenksmu praskrendantys lėktuvai.

Professor Jonas Stankunas, Director of VGTU A. Gustaitis Aviation Institute says that aviation, like basketball, is a national pride, a way of fight for freedom, which, since ancient times, has brought together and inspired the hearts of Lithuanians. According to Prof. J.Stankunas, the national aviation is currently changing its image on the market. “We have lost the national carrier, but now we have the Lithuanian Air Force, the State Border Guard Aviation, the National Air Navigation Service as well as newly emerging technical maintenance organizations. These areas of aviation are stable, viable and here our professionals will always be sought after,” – asserts the Director of the Institute. – “Lithuanian aviators have and will have prospects for future. When people have aspirations and ideas, they sooner or later attain them, in one or another form”. More than 1 200 students have graduated AGAI, every year about 60 students receive a diploma in Aviation science. Lithuania having started to work under the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency standards, licenses issued by the Institute became valid throughout the EU, therefore AGAI professionals have been recruited by Air Baltic, SAS, Ryan Air and other air companies. “I feel pleased when flying by plane I find that the entire crew of the aircraft from the commander, the second pilot to stewardesses are all graduates of our institute,” rejoices the Director of the Aviation Institute which has been successfully prospering for nearly two decades.