OREANDA-NEWS. Two UTair Aviation pilots have been awarded civil aviation prizes granted annually to aviators of outstanding merit by the Ulynovsk Regional Government.Captain Evgeny Setin, pilot of UTair Tu-154 aircraft, has been recognized “The Best Civil Aviation Captain” Mr. Setin has a total more than 22,000 flight hours since the beginning of his flight career.

“The Best Training Officer” award went to chief training pilot and director of the UTair Aircraft Division's Flight Training Group Sergey Shtefan. Mr Shtefan has 15,000 flight hours.

The Awards ceremony took place on August 17, 2013 in Ulyanovsk. The Head of the Ulyanovsk Region Government and the Governor of Ulyanovsk Sergey Morozov took part in the event.

Numerous UTair Aviation employees have already been honored with international and Russian aviation awards. In 2012 UTair's international aircraft division Mi-8 helicopter crew headed by Sergey Ignatov won the award Igor Sikorsky for Humanitarian Services “Honor of Perfection” Award sponsored by the International Helicopter Association. A year earlier the captain of the same crew was awarded the “Order of Courage” for bravery and exceptional professional qualities in the performance of duty in extreme conditions. Other crew members have been awarded with Nesterov Medal.

In 2012 more than 130 UTair employees have been recognized with industry and airline awards, commendations and medals. UTair boasts 15 employees who bear the title “Merited Pilots of Russian Federation” and one holding the title “Hero of Russian Federation,” one of the highest civilian awards in Russia.

UTair Aviation ranks among the top three Russian airlines. In 2012 UTair aircraft transported 8,582,681 passengers. The airline operates more than 200 fixed wing aircraft and performs flights to 110 destinations in Russia and aboard. The airline maintains its central hub at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, from which it performs 100 flights daily.

The Annual Civil Aviation Award was instituted by the Ulyanovsk Regional Government in 2012 as means of recognizing the wide ranging talents of civil aviation in the region and to promote the prestige of the regions civil aviation history by identifying and acknowledging the best professionals in aviation industry organizations, sparking interest in the young generation for aviation. The award includes eight distinct categories.