At least 23% of the 1,750 employees at AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. certainly can. Thanks to the initiative of the ‘Women in Aviation’ association, another 65 professionals from the aviation industry had the same opportunity. On September 18, 2025, through a partnership with the organisation, they took part in a tour of the L-39 Skyfox production facility. It was one of the largest events for external visitors ever hosted by AERO. Attendees included representatives from key players in the Czech aviation sector, such as Prague Airport, Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic, the Czech Aviation Training Centre (CATC), and companies like ERA and GE Aviation Czech.
Zuzana Dendisová (Lawyer and Export Compliance Officer), serving as the ‘Women in Aviation’ ambassador for AERO, did an excellent job organising the day. She worked in collaboration with Radek Novotný (Chief Legal Counsel), who has championed AERO’s corporate support for the association. The participants were welcomed by Ing. Viktor Sotona, MBA (President & Chairman of the Board of Directors), who introduced them to the history and current state of the Czech Republic’s largest aircraft manufacturer. AERO is one of the oldest aircraft companies in the world, founded in 1919. At its peak, the company employed up to 5,000 people. Today, 1,750 highly skilled professionals work for the world’s largest manufacturer of jet training aircraft. The company has produced over 11,000 jet trainers, 6,700 of which have been built since 1950 at the current Vodochody facility. This has enabled the training of five generations of pilots, who flew aircraft including the iconic L-39 Albatros. From 1968 until production ended in 1995, nearly 3,000 units of this aircraft were manufactured. The L-159 ALCA followed in the successful footsteps of the Albatros, though it did not surpass its production numbers.
Currently, the newly designed and developed L-39 Skyfox jet trainer and light attack aircraft is rolling off AERO’s production lines. Its development and production required an investment of billions of Czech Koruna. Since 2021, more than 35 aircraft have been produced. This makes the Czech Republic one of only nine countries in the world with the capability to design, develop, and manufacture a jet aircraft. However, AERO also partners with leading global manufacturers in the production of civil aircraft components for companies such as Airbus and Embraer.
But AERO’s range of activities and services doesn’t end with aircraft production and sales. Beyond design engineering, prototype development, and certification, the company’s strengths also lie in modernisation and upgrades, weapons integration, and integrated logistics support. Training for a customer’s ground personnel takes three to six months. The basic type rating course for the L-39 Skyfox consists of 14-16 flight hours. Instructor training requires an additional 7-10 hours, depending on the desired qualifications (e.g., night flying). A pilot can exercise instructor privileges after accumulating a minimum of 30 flight hours on type. Training can be conducted either at Vodochody or at the customer’s home base.
None of this would be possible without skilled people. Luboš Tejkl (EVP & Chief People & Property Officer) highlighted the particular loyalty of the company’s employees. As mentioned earlier, women make up 23% of the workforce, with an average age of 45 and an average of 12 years of service with the company. The figures for the 77% male workforce are similar: an average age of 44 and 11 years with the same employer. It’s not uncommon to find families with several generations who have worked at AERO.
Let’s take a closer look at the L-39 Skyfox aircraft itself. The tour of the production facilities was led by Miloš Košťál (Vice President of Assembly) and Miroslav Matušinský (Director of Final Assembly).
The two-seat aircraft is among the most effective in its category. Thanks to its durable, in-house-produced landing gear, it can operate from both paved and unpaved surfaces. Its airframe is made of lightweight composite parts, and the camouflage can be customised to the customer’s specifications. Compared to the Albatros, the aircraft’s nose is 33 cm shorter (the Skyfox’s total length is 11.83 m), making it more stable during weapons firing. The Skyfox can be equipped with up to five hardpoints of either Western or Eastern types. The aircraft’s empty weight is 3,280 kg, with a maximum take-off weight of 5,600 kg.
The cockpit is fitted with a digital radio and modern avionics. The Williams International FJ44-4M turbofan engine is notable for its low fuel consumption and ease of maintenance. Thanks to integrated fuel tanks in its swept wing (with a span of 9.38 m), the aircraft offers enhanced manoeuvrability and a longer range, with an endurance of approximately 4 hours. It reaches a maximum speed of 907 km/h, has a service ceiling of 10,670 m, and can handle G-loads of +8/-4 G.
Many questions were raised about safety. The Skyfox is equipped with a single-piece canopy resistant to bird strikes. The Martin-Baker Mk.CZ16H ejection seat allows for safe ejection even at zero altitude and zero speed. Safety is further enhanced by an automatic canopy jettison system, as well as a canopy fracturing system using a detonating cord for through-canopy ejection in case the jettison fails.
The pilot’s equipment includes items such as fire-resistant gloves, specifically for protection during a potential ejection.
The L-39 Skyfox is available in either Western or Eastern configurations and offers a comprehensive pilot training solution (basic, advanced, and Lead-In Fighter Training – LIFT). It can be used as a light attack aircraft with air-to-air capabilities against slow or low-flying targets, and can also perform reconnaissance missions thanks to its endurance and operational range.
Marta Guthová, founder and chairwoman of the ‘Women in Aviation’ association, informed the attendees about the group’s activities this year and its plans for the next. These included the completion of the first round of its mentoring programme and a series of inspirational breakfast meetings focused on career support and personal development. A major event is planned for secondary school students called ‘On Board for the Future,’ designed to introduce young people to various aviation professions and inspire them to pursue a career in this exciting field. For professionals already working in aviation, several more visits to the association’s partners and affiliated companies are planned. These tours allow participants to gain new knowledge and insights into the workings of other companies, share experiences, and inspire each other towards professional growth. “It’s wonderful that, through the association, we can meet colleagues from across the industry, regardless of their profession or seniority,” commented Zuzana Dendisová, AERO’s ‘Women in Aviation’ ambassador. “We have development engineers, HR specialists, pilots, flight attendants, lawyers, press officers, and even top-level managers. We are in good company.”
Some things can be planned, while others happen unexpectedly. The ‘Women in Aviation’ group was treated to just such a surprise during their visit to AERO: a flypast of two JAS-39 Gripen fighters alongside the nine BAE Hawk T1 jets of the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows aerobatic team. They were heading towards Prague’s Charles Bridge for a display celebrating Czech Air Force Day and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
We would like to thank AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. and the Women in Aviation association for the invitation to this event.
Source: AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s.
