My name is Andrea Caló, 23 years old, currently working for one of the lead private jet charter company in Europe.
When did the dream start for you?
This is a typical HR technical interview question when getting your first aviation job, so always be prepared with an answer, because everyone is interested about your aviation goals, to see if you are really drawn by a passion inside.
My dream started during my childhood. Thanks to my parents, we were always on a plane flying around the world on vacations. I fell in love with airplanes since then.
I do remember boarding a giant B747-400 of Thai Airways on our way to Indonesia, my dad asked the pilots if we could see the cockpit and we could.
I do remember sitting on left seat with giants monitors and the entire cockpit lit up with many buttons covering the walls. Since then, I knew this would be my dream, and that this would one day be my job.
What were your next steps?
First of all, I attended an Aeronautical High School in Italy for 5 years (2013-2018). The basics this school taught it's students allowed me to obtain high scores in my future aviation exams.
After graduating in 2018, I did attend a selection process for European Aviation Academy flight school, based in Rome. I was accepted and I started the course the same year for EASA and part of FAA licenses in Florida, US.
My Italian flight school was linked with an American flight school, allowing students to obtain all the necessary licenses in America, surrounded by beautiful environments, people, instructors and weather. This is still the best experience of my life so far.
What was covered? FAA PPL (4 weeks), FAA IR (3 weeks), EASA ATPL (6 months), hours building (100 hours as PIC of airplane, flying around Florida in challenging airspaces, allowing you to build the necessary confidence in your skills), EASA CPL (2-3 weeks), FAA MEP IR (2-3 weeks) and EASA MEP ( 2 weeks).
The course was modular but due to the pros of America, it lasted only 14 months, probably even faster than a regular integrated course in Europe.
December 2019 marked my last month in America, as my plan was to convert the MEP-IR in Europe, MCC in the simulator and I was ready for my aviation career to start!
As we all know, 2019 marked a very tough period for the entire world. With the ongoing Covid virus, the world stopped, as did the aviation sector.
For one entire year, I had been looking for a job in a cockpit but nothing was available in the market. I have to admit that it has been a very tough period for me personally. I was looking for a regular job to keep me busy, allowing me to grow in my skills and also have a payslip at the end of the month.
So I did - I worked as a courier driver for several months and for the next year and a half I had been very lucky to find work in the aviation sector, doing training to air traffic controller (ATC) in Italy.
Throughout the period of Covid, I chose to see is as a chance to develop my personal and interpersonal skills.
In May 2021, after passing all three steps of selection, I was made an offer to join one of the European leaders in private jet charter, as First Officer at Citation jet.
I'm currently totally in love with this job, as it's allowing me to get in touch and talk personally with our clients, fly to different airports every day and visit different cities every night.
My dream came true.
What advice would you give to aspiring aviation professionals currently searching for a job?
To anyone currently looking for an aviation job, as you have probably already picked up from my own journey, resilience is very important in our sector.
Adapt to new changes, new challenges and new difficult periods. Allow this period to upgrade and take your skills to the next level.
Study and be always prepared for a possible selection and do not miss it !
Aviation is currently facing a very good market period, companies will be looking for pilot for many years, which is a sign that it is a good time to start your career in this wonderful world.
Keep it up pilots, be safe, study and enjoy this world together!
Apply for Pilot jobs today!
