Pilot Academy: Dreams without borders

The dream of becoming a commercial pilot attracts students from across Europe, and even beyond, to the airBaltic Pilot Academy. While the Academy is open exclusively to holders of EU, EEA, or Swiss passports, some students from distant parts of the world, such as Brazil and Argentina, have joined the programme through dual citizenship, bringing unique global perspectives to the classroom and cockpit.

Bernardo Winkeler, from Brazil, has followed airBaltic for years. ‘I’ve always been an avgeek,’ he says. ‘Even back when airBaltic flew Boeing 757s and 737 Classics, I loved its fleet and livery – especially the green and blue. Even from Brazil, I kept an eye on the airline’s growth.’
When airBaltic introduced the Airbus A220-300 and launched the Pilot Academy with a state-of-the-art fleet of Diamond DA40 and DA42 aircraft, Winkeler began planning: ‘I immediately started preparing, both personally and financially, to pursue this opportunity.’

Kevin Klau, from Argentina, discovered the Academy while working as cabin crew for an airline based in Dubai. ‘I was searching for a serious flight school in Europe. What stood out about the airBaltic Pilot Academy was not only the strong airline connection and modern training setup, but also how quickly and professionally it responded. Some schools took months; airBaltic replied within hours.’
What convinced Klau was the structured career path offered by the Academy – a clear opportunity to become a first officer at airBaltic, supported by the airline’s loan programme. ‘That gave me the confidence that this was a serious, future-focused place to train,’ he says.

For both Winkeler and Klau, moving to Latvia has been a rewarding and life-changing experience. In a peaceful and focused learning environment, they’ve been able to fully dedicate themselves to their passion.
Their stories reflect the truly international spirit of the airBaltic Pilot Academy – a place where future pilots from 22 countries, and a world of perspectives, come together to take flight.

Could this be your path too? Start your application to the airBaltic Pilot Academy here!