Azat Zaydullin (nicknamed Az) is a Captain on the Boeing 737-400/500 with Ukraine International Airlines.
Az had always wanted to be a pilot, so in 1981 he joined the Soviet Air Force in the USSR. After his innitial officer training he was posted to the Ukraine as a pilot to fly the L-39 “Albatross” Jet Trainer Light Attack Aircraft, and later was posted on to the famous Mig 21 “Fishbed”. He left the Soviet military in 1987 and became a civilian aerobatics instructor at Kiev in the Ukraine.
Az flew competition aerobatics at all levels, and was the unlimited-level Aerobatics Champion of the Ukraine in 1994, 2001 and 2002, flying Sukhoi SU26 and 31. He was a member of Ukraine Aerobatic Team from 1994 to 2002. The team came third in the World Air Games held in Turkey, in 1997.
He joined Ukraine International Airlines as a first officer in 2003, flying the Boeing 737-200 and moved on to the 737-400/500, where he was promoted to Captain in 2006.
He married his wife Ludmilla in 1997. She works in Kiev, where they live with their 18-year-old son Timur, who is studying Computer Studies at the university in Kiev.
Azat started flying with the Yakovlevs in 2001, where he has now flown in more than 200 shows, and has also made more than 600 public appearances around the world. He normally flies at position Yak 4, but also covers the Yak 2 position.
Az has recently started to snow ski, and loves to perform Morris Dancing when he finds a spare moment at the team base in Dorset.