30-Year Flying Dream Turned Reality: how K. Pakarklis used his golden ticket at GetJet Airlines

It’s never too late. It’s all about the passion you have for the job. This holds true for K?stutis Pakarklis , who, after more than 30 years, fulfilled his dream and commenced his commercial pilot career upon graduating from GetJet Airlines' internal Cadet Program.

For over half a year, K?stutis has been successfully flying from our Lagos base, exploring the intricacies of African aviation. We sat down for a brief conversation about his adventure.

- Your connection to aviation spans decades. How did it all begin with, and how did the connection evolved into a more serious commitment?

- I always wanted to fly. I've been involved in aviation since 1986 when my parents brought me to an after-school model aircraft club. I dreamt of flying proper airplanes, but at the time it simply didn’t work out, for a whole number of reasons. And so, I went into engineering. I graduated with a degree in construction and, for a long time, worked in banks and in the telecoms sector. But I kept looking? for ways to get into? aviation. Eventually, I joined the Vilnius Aero Club and learned to fly: first a glider, then a powered airplane, with a PPL license. I really enjoyed flying, and so, over time, decided to turn my hobby into a job. I became an flight instructor, since 2014, learned to conduct aviation audits, and I just kept moving. In 2017, I got my first aviation job, as a safety and compliance manager in aviation academy. Airlines remained the ultimate goal, though. The obvious route was to start studying the ATP theory.

I began my classes during COVID, and the lock-down really helped me focus. Another huge help was the network I’d built over time. In 2021, I got a call from GetJet Airlines. They were offering a job as a compliance specialist, but the best bit about it was the prospect of moving on to flying. There were just a few conditions: I needed to complete my CPL course and successfully graduate from the Cadet program.

-?So, at that time, GetJet Airlines started the Cadet program, which made it easier for employees to become pilots. That was the opportunity you couldn’t miss?

- Yes. My colleague Gatis Jurkāns and I were the first ones to participate in the program. I finished in December 2022, just before Christmas, underwent Base Training in February, joined the OCC group, and started Line Training in Vilnius and Barcelona. From July 2023 onwards, I began flying in Lagos with GetJet Airlines.

- How would you describe the entire process in the program? What was the most challenging part?

- Despite having a good amount of aviation knowledge, learning for the Type Rating required a lot – it was mentally demanding. The simulator sessions were almost always at night. Understanding the aircraft systems, how everything is interconnected – there was often so much information that it was difficult to absorb it all. However, when you see the purpose and have a goal, it becomes easier. I never had thoughts that it wasn't for me or that I didn't like it. There was a considerable risk – I'm not 25 years old, and it was now or never. My journey was long, and I am happy with how it turned out.?

- What was your first flight like?

- My first flight was to Antalya from Vilnius. Here, the realization struck that I’m not alone; that there are 180 people in the cabin behind me. I wouldn’t say I was nervous, but I was certainly cautious. I needed to be sure I was across the radio, the charts, the procedures, - everything! In the end, it was a successful flight and a smooth landing, so I’m pretty pleased with how that went.

-?You’ve been flying for half a year. How’s your perspective in the cockpit changed?

-?They say when you start flying, you look quite narrowly – only at what's in front of you in the cockpit. But with time, the eyesight shifted, and I started noticing what was happening beyond the systems, outside the window – the periphery expanded. However, preparing for each airport while flying more is an ever-changing process, so, of course, you stay focused.

-?Is what follows after the first flight something that could be called the 'usual routine'?

-?I don't think so. There are harder and easier flights. I had cases where there was a question of whether to land the aircraft or not. I haven't flown in winter conditions yet, but I have experienced thunderstorms and lightnings in Africa.

-?How do conditions in Africa differ from Europe?

- Poor radio communication, dealing with unusual dispatcher decisions, making it challenging to converse in some sectors – these situations are common. In Africa, you also need to take more responsibility, sometimes making decisions without waiting for dispatchers to avoid inconvenience and unwanted adventures.

-?What are you most happy about now?

-?The job itself. I feel that I am where I should have been a long time ago. Excel spreadsheets are a thing of the past. I like my mobile office in the air, the crews with whom we have dynamic workflow, and the company I work for. I am grateful to GetJet Airlines for the opportunities I have now. Now I look forward to the new challenges, and destinations and see what it brings to me.