University of North Dakota aerospace program signs deal with Japan's Tokai University

The University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation announced another training contract Thursday, this time a renewed contract with Tokai University in Japan.

With the new Tokai students, that brings the number of contract students at the university to about 350, foundation Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Chuck Pineo said.

Besides the Japanese students, 25 of which arrived Wednesday, the day before the contract was formally announced, UND is training students from China, Norway, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan, he said.

He could not disclose the value of the deal, which is for four years with a minimum of 40 students each year. UND Aerospace signed the contract with Tokai on March 24.

Previously, the two had a three-year contract starting in 2007, which brought 138 students to UND.

The Tokai students are learning how to fly fixed-wing aircraft to prepare to enter the airline industry in Japan.

More students are flooding in the next two weeks — 21 Saudis, 45 Chinese and five Taiwanese. The latter two groups will also be preparing to fly airliners. The Saudis are learning to fly helicopters for the Interior Ministry.

Last month, UND Aerospace signed a three-year deal with Avinor, the state-owned company that runs Norwegian airports. Thirty-six students will be arriving in November to learn air traffic control.

Tags: daily updates, japan, tokai university, university of north dakota, aerospace