Cold water – warm memories

Some photographs capture more than just a moment; they tell a story that lasts for years.

One of the most recognisable images of the airBaltic Pilot Academy was taken in May 2021 in Liepāja, Latvia, shortly after student Deniss Artemjevs completed a flight with the Diamond DA42 aircraft. Nearly five years later, this photo is still widely used in the Pilot Academy’s presentations, Open Days, and other communication materials. A printed copy even hangs on the wall at the Academy’s base in Liepāja, reminding new students of the milestones that await them during training.

The image shows Artemjevs standing beside the aircraft while a bucket of water is poured over him – a wellknown tradition marking important achievements in pilot training. While the photograph has become iconic, Artemjevs says there’s a small twist to the story behind it.

‘Yes, I remember it very well,’ he says with a smile, ‘but that wasn’t really my first flight on the DA42. That had in fact taken place a few days earlier.’

At the time, a local television crew had planned to film an interview with representatives of the Pilot Academy, and the team decided to recreate the traditional celebration for the cameras. ‘So my actual first DA42 flight passed completely quietly, with no new epaulettes, no water splashing, no tradition,’ Artemjevs laughs. ‘All of the fun happened a few days later, when the cameras were present.’

The tradition itself is well known among Pilot Academy students. After their first solo flight on a single-engine aircraft, the student’s tie is cut, a new stripe is added to their epaulettes, and a bucket of water (usually cold) follows. The same celebration also marks the student’s first flight on a twin-engine aircraft, thus marking another important step on the student’s journey towards becoming a commercial pilot.

Artemjevs does not have a copy of the photo at home, and he was pleasantly surprised to see it years later hanging in the Academy’s office in Liepāja. ‘It made me smile,’ he recalls. ‘I wrote to the other “hero” in the picture, Antra, and she was surprised and pleased as well. We even joked about being local celebrities.’

Today, Artemjevs continues his career at airBaltic and is on his way to becoming a captain. The photograph, for its part, remains a lasting reminder of the traditions, friendships, and unforgettable moments students experience during pilot training.