How did you start out in aviation?

When I was deciding on my future career back in high school, I thought it could be interesting to become an air transport pilot. Back in my day, the only possibility was to study aviation at the University of Zilina, where I studied economics and also trained to become a commercial pilot. The entry requirements were rather strict: apart from the university entrance exam, I also had to pass psychological tests and an aviation check, and I needed good grades in mathematics too.

How does it feel to pilot a Boeing 737?

The B 737 aircraft was designed about 30 years ago. It has been updated many times though, the state-of-the-art model is called B 737 MAX. I've been flying with this aircraft since 1996, and I have completed roughly 15,000 flight hours in it. The B 373 is a modern and very efficient aircraft for 200 passengers and 6 crew members. It is incredibly reliable and easily manageable both in the air and on the ground.

What is your best experience as a pilot?

The best moment is when I fly through the first layer of clouds and I see the sun and the blue sky, which remains hidden from those on the ground. It's a feeling you never get sick of :). Being a pilot will take you to many beautiful places that you will remember for the rest of your life. There is often time to explore cities and meet people in the far corners of the world.

There are days when you depart Prague in -25 ℃ and arrive in Thailand in  +35 ℃. In the beginning, you're hungry for every new experience, such as a sunrise or sunset at 14 km altitude, with its beautiful colours and atmosphere, or flying over interesting places, such as the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Himalayas or the Atlas range. The Earth's surface is fascinatingly beautiful. Also, flying with the Hungarian prime minister on a classified diplomatic trip and private red carpet welcome is something very hard to forget.

What are the benefits of working as an air transport pilot?

I would say the main benefit is the job itself – it's a hobby for many of us and it's something we love to do. It's a never-ending process of education and gathering new information because of the constant progress in technology, materials and construction. The aircraft is always changing, and so are we. It's a dynamic process and there is no space for the stereotypes of common jobs. Undoubtedly, the financial remuneration of this demanding job is also a big benefit.

What are the requirements for becoming an air transport pilot?

It is important to make the decision early and to fulfil the dream step-by-step. Apart from good health, nowadays you also need financial means to obtain the training, and so you have to make your first big decision to get a loan and to repay it monthly. This helps young people to form good traits, such as responsibility, punctuality and precision, which are all necessary for this demanding profession.

What would you recommend to prospective pilots?

Always believe in yourself and fight for your dream, just like the generations of pilots before you. You have the opportunity to be the one of the very few who get to fly like a bird.

How does the quality of the training influence the pilot's career?

Proper training is the basis of everything. It is essential to take your first steps under a good instructor's guidance because you'll build everything else upon it. It is also important to use modern aircraft to prevent technical difficulties from disrupting the learning process. There are vast differences between schools, instructors and equipment. At AeroJOB, we have amazing and very experienced instructors. It is ideal for schools to have instructors who still actively pilot commercial aircraft and therefore have valuable knowledge to pass on to their students. The equipment is changing very rapidly and it is important to have aircraft with state-of-the-art equipment to ensure effective training and an easy transition to more advanced types of aircraft.

What does the future look like for air transport pilots in Europe and worldwide?

The world of aviation is experiencing a huge boom and pilots are in demand. Many airlines can't fly to their full capacity due to the lack of pilots. This trend should last for a few more years, which is good for new pilots as they will be able to find a job anywhere they want. I wish them the best in reaching their dreams and being happy when they wake up in the morning to go to the "best office in the world".

Ing. Branislav Čop has more than 26 years of professional experience as a commercial pilot. During his career he flew to Fischer Air, ČSA, Travel Service and Ryanair. He flew a total of 17,000 flight hours on various types of aircraft, 14,000 of which were as Boeing-737 captains. As a B-737 type instructor, he flew more than 1,000 hours in type ratings and training. He currently works as a B-737 captain at Ryanair.

Flight hours: 17,000

Qualifications: TRI B737, IRI (A)