World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
South Korean Navy instructor reaches 10,000 accident-free flight hours
Park Ki-hyun reached 10,000 accident-free flight hours during a training flight on October 23, the South Korean Navy said.
He is a flight instructor with the Navy’s 609th Training Wing and the first pilot in the Navy’s history to reach the milestone.
Park began flying helicopters after joining the Navy as an officer in 1991, and spent about 19 years on operational flights at sea.
After retiring in 2010, he became a Navy civilian instructor the following year.
He has trained 378 helicopter pilots over 15 years, including Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force personnel.
His experience spans six helicopter types, and he said he plans to keep training pilots to protect the seas from the air.
Park Ki-hyun became the first South Korean Navy pilot to reach 10,000 accident-free flight hours.
He reached the milestone during a training flight on October 23, the Navy said.
Park is a flight instructor with the Navy Aviation Command’s 609th Training Squadron.
Over 15 years as an instructor, he trained 378 helicopter pilots from the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.
He said the achievement reflected the support of fellow pilots and ground crews, and pledged to continue training helicopter pilots.
- Who
- Park Ki-hyun, a Navy helicopter pilot and flight instructor.
- What
- He reached 10,000 accident-free flight hours, the first in Navy history to do so.
- When
- October 23; the Navy announced the milestone on October 25.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Park was commissioned as a Navy second lieutenant and began flying as a helicopter pilot.
Park retired from the Navy as a major.
Park was appointed as a civilian Navy flight instructor.
Park reached 10,000 accident-free flight hours during a training flight.
The Navy announced that Park had reached the milestone.
- Milestone
- 10,000 accident-free flight hours
- Pilot
- Park Ki-hyun
- Training unit
- Navy Aviation Command’s 609th Training Squadron
- Instructor experience
- 15 years
- Pilots trained
- 378: 347 Navy, 28 Marine Corps and 3 Air Force helicopter pilots
1 source
What people are saying
Behind the figure of 10,000 hours were not only a determination to follow the basics every moment, but also many comrades who worked hard alongside me, including pilots, air traffic controllers and maintenance personnel who supported us on the ground.
I will continue to do my best to train elite helicopter pilots who protect the sea from the sky.