The National Aviation Academy was formed in 1992 as the National Aviation Centre. It was created to supply experts in the sector of civil aviation and assist Azerbaijani national carriers. The university took its current name in 1994.
Located on a purpose-built campus on an 8-hectare site in Baku, it is divided into faculties of air transport, transport technology, aerospace, physics and technology, economics and law and an extramural faculty which has been providing distance-taught courses since 1996.
Applicants are assessed on physical tests such as a standing long jump as well as academic criteria.
Female students began to be admitted to pilot-training programmes in 2016.
Of the 23 disciplines, 12 are open to international applicants.
The Department of International Relations opened in 2007 and there are currently students from Russia, Belgium, Turkey and Georgia. The school offers dormitory buildings on campus for 335 students, including 69 women.
Since 2020, the Student Creativity House with modern equipment has enabled student project startups. Other facilities include a pilot training centre and simulator.
