![\"Inside](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ucak-kokpitinin-ici.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMy name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job with the airline was as cabin crew, then I applied to the academy \u2014 and now I\u2019m in the cockpit!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
How did you start working in the cabin?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ucak-yolcu-koltuklari.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI was an engineer. I\u2019d missed the employment applications for cockpit roles, but part-time cabin positions were being advertised around the same time. My then-girlfriend, who is now my wife, suggested that I apply for one of those roles. Of course, the two jobs are not the same, but I applied for the cabin role, hoping to get a feel for the aviation space before moving on to the cockpit.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow does one become a pilot? What are the requirements?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Turkish](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/turk-hava-yollari-ucagi-kalkiyor.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSome universities operate Flight Training Departments, which you can enter and learn how to become a pilot while taking regular courses as well. You can also become a pilot by attending courses at private schools for a fee. In my case, I applied to Turkish Airlines when it announced its first officer recruitment. I was accepted and, in 2016, trained at the Turkish Airlines Flight Academy in Ayd\u0131n. I also had additional training at the Turkish Airlines training center in Istanbul and I\u2019ve been working as a pilot since 2018. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSo, you completed all your training with Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Turkish](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/turk-hava-yollari-ucagi-ve-hava-trafik-kontroloru.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYes, I received all my pilot training with Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines operates its own flying academy in Ayd\u0131n, which is where my first pilot and flight training took place, followed by aircraft-type training. As you may know, Turkish Airlines operates a variety of aircraft types, with Airbus and Boeing being the two major suppliers. Our fleet includes the wide-body Airbus A330 and Airbus A350 aircraft, the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 aircraft, and the narrow body the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. I fly and serve as a first officer on the Airbus A320.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat was the most challenging aspect of the training?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pilots](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/kokpitteki-pilotlar-kontrol-listesini-hazirliyor.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe instruction was superb, although the theoretical aspects were less appealing \u2014 those courses were not any more difficult for me, but it wasn\u2019t as engaging to be on the ground studying. But of course, the theoretical aspects are fundamental to the actual flying!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes every student graduate?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ucus-ogretmeni-ve-ogrenci-pilot.jpg\")
\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn every flight school, there\u2019s the possibility that students might not graduate. When you undertake flight training with Turkish Airlines, you go through several stages, including psychomotor tests, written examinations, and on-site interviews. However, not everyone who starts flight school will end up becoming a pilot; students can drop out of the training or be dismissed for a variety of reasons.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nYou said that you studied in Ayd\u0131n. Was the Turkish Airlines facility a boarding school?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Turkish](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/turk-hava-yollari-ucak-kanadi.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYes, more or less. We didn\u2019t have dormitory facilities within the school, but Turkish Airlines pays for students to stay in contracted hotels. Of course, there is a more established order there and there\u2019s always a hotel booked; we always stayed at the same hotel. So, in some ways, it was similar to a boarding school.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat do you remember about your first flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Turkish](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/turk-hava-yollari-airbus-a-321.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you\u2019re taking your first flight, there\u2019s an instructor pilot next to you, giving you instructions. So, you\u2019re excited about piloting an actual aircraft for the first time, but \u2014 at least in my case \u2014 you\u2019re also concentrating on following the procedures correctly. So, there I was, extremely and intently focused on the procedures and operations, and doing the various countdowns. I honestly can\u2019t remember that much about it but I do remember that at a certain point in the process, the Commander turned to me and said, “Hold on a minute and look out the window. You\u2019re flying, do you realize that?”. That was pretty incredible. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIn your opinion, what are the obstacles, drawbacks, and benefits of being a pilot? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pilot's](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pilot-apoleti.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor me, the benefits of being a pilot include the opportunity to travel to different countries in different time zones and see different places. We can meet all types of people, experience various cultures. An obstacle or drawback is that time zone differences can affect sleep patterns, and you must plan accordingly. Your schedule is going to vary from that of your family and friends and you have to adjust to that. As pilots, we generally have monthly schedules, but these can change: We have to be adaptable, but at the same time we have to be extremely organized. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhen and where was your longest flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Airplane](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ucak-kanadi-bulutlarin-uzerinde.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWide-body aircraft tend to be deployed for transoceanic journeys, but I fly on narrower body aircraft, so our flight networks have shorter ranges. Our aircraft types typically fly to places that are a maximum of six hours away. The farthest locations served by the Airbus A320 aircraft include Bishkek and Astana in Central Asia, Lisbon and Porto in the west. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHave you experienced any extraordinary events \u2014 positive or negative \u2014 in the air?<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Aircraft](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ucak-koridoru.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHonestly \u2014 and fortunately \u2014 nothing particularly significant or surprising has occurred in the air while I\u2019ve been flying. I don’t want anything unusual to happen when I\u2019m flying, and I hope it doesn’t. There are competent pilots and lucky pilots: We all strive to be competent pilots, and we all hope to be lucky pilots! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWe have a question about the Commander\u2019s onboard announcements: Are pilots provided with special vocal training? Because they all sound so charismatic and commanding! <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pilot](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/arkasi-donuk-kulaklikli-pilot.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaha! The sound of the pilot\u2019s voice has nothing to do with special training \u2014 the microphone in the cockpit is close to your mouth and there\u2019s a sponge at the end to prevent the sound from exploding, and also for hygiene reasons. So probably anyone would sound charismatic! As far as sounding \u201ccommanding\u201d, we\u2019re not making up stuff as we go: There\u2019s a script that contains announcements covering all phases and facets of the flight. Unless something extraordinary happens, we\u2019re usually following that script. The script also ensures that every passenger on every Turkish Airlines flight receives the same information in the same way. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt is said that Formula 1 drivers lose four to five kilos in every race. Does flying have this effect on you? Are there any other notable physical\/mental impacts?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pilot](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pilot-terminal-penceresinden-bakiyor.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Airplane](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/gun-batiminda-ucak.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pilot](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pilot-ucus-plani-hazirliyor.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Flight](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/kokpitte-ucusa-hazirlik.jpg\")
Mehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pilots](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ucus-sirasinda-kokpitteki-pilotlar.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Turkish](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/turk-hava-yollari-ucagi-kalkista.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Airplane](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ucak-gun-batiminda.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pilot](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pilot-saati-kontrol-ediyor.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Pilots](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/pilotlar-kokpitte-ucusa-hazirlaniyor.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Cabin](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/kabin-ekibi-ucaga-yururken.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"View](\"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/ucak-penceresinden-manzara.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI was an engineer. I\u2019d missed the employment applications for cockpit roles, but part-time cabin positions were being advertised around the same time. My then-girlfriend, who is now my wife, suggested that I apply for one of those roles. Of course, the two jobs are not the same, but I applied for the cabin role, hoping to get a feel for the aviation space before moving on to the cockpit.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
How does one become a pilot? What are the requirements?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSome universities operate Flight Training Departments, which you can enter and learn how to become a pilot while taking regular courses as well. You can also become a pilot by attending courses at private schools for a fee. In my case, I applied to Turkish Airlines when it announced its first officer recruitment. I was accepted and, in 2016, trained at the Turkish Airlines Flight Academy in Ayd\u0131n. I also had additional training at the Turkish Airlines training center in Istanbul and I\u2019ve been working as a pilot since 2018. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSo, you completed all your training with Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYes, I received all my pilot training with Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines operates its own flying academy in Ayd\u0131n, which is where my first pilot and flight training took place, followed by aircraft-type training. As you may know, Turkish Airlines operates a variety of aircraft types, with Airbus and Boeing being the two major suppliers. Our fleet includes the wide-body Airbus A330 and Airbus A350 aircraft, the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 aircraft, and the narrow body the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. I fly and serve as a first officer on the Airbus A320.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat was the most challenging aspect of the training?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe instruction was superb, although the theoretical aspects were less appealing \u2014 those courses were not any more difficult for me, but it wasn\u2019t as engaging to be on the ground studying. But of course, the theoretical aspects are fundamental to the actual flying!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes every student graduate?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n \n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn every flight school, there\u2019s the possibility that students might not graduate. When you undertake flight training with Turkish Airlines, you go through several stages, including psychomotor tests, written examinations, and on-site interviews. However, not everyone who starts flight school will end up becoming a pilot; students can drop out of the training or be dismissed for a variety of reasons.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nYou said that you studied in Ayd\u0131n. Was the Turkish Airlines facility a boarding school?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYes, more or less. We didn\u2019t have dormitory facilities within the school, but Turkish Airlines pays for students to stay in contracted hotels. Of course, there is a more established order there and there\u2019s always a hotel booked; we always stayed at the same hotel. So, in some ways, it was similar to a boarding school.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat do you remember about your first flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you\u2019re taking your first flight, there\u2019s an instructor pilot next to you, giving you instructions. So, you\u2019re excited about piloting an actual aircraft for the first time, but \u2014 at least in my case \u2014 you\u2019re also concentrating on following the procedures correctly. So, there I was, extremely and intently focused on the procedures and operations, and doing the various countdowns. I honestly can\u2019t remember that much about it but I do remember that at a certain point in the process, the Commander turned to me and said, “Hold on a minute and look out the window. You\u2019re flying, do you realize that?”. That was pretty incredible. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIn your opinion, what are the obstacles, drawbacks, and benefits of being a pilot? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor me, the benefits of being a pilot include the opportunity to travel to different countries in different time zones and see different places. We can meet all types of people, experience various cultures. An obstacle or drawback is that time zone differences can affect sleep patterns, and you must plan accordingly. Your schedule is going to vary from that of your family and friends and you have to adjust to that. As pilots, we generally have monthly schedules, but these can change: We have to be adaptable, but at the same time we have to be extremely organized. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhen and where was your longest flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWide-body aircraft tend to be deployed for transoceanic journeys, but I fly on narrower body aircraft, so our flight networks have shorter ranges. Our aircraft types typically fly to places that are a maximum of six hours away. The farthest locations served by the Airbus A320 aircraft include Bishkek and Astana in Central Asia, Lisbon and Porto in the west. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHave you experienced any extraordinary events \u2014 positive or negative \u2014 in the air?<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHonestly \u2014 and fortunately \u2014 nothing particularly significant or surprising has occurred in the air while I\u2019ve been flying. I don’t want anything unusual to happen when I\u2019m flying, and I hope it doesn’t. There are competent pilots and lucky pilots: We all strive to be competent pilots, and we all hope to be lucky pilots! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWe have a question about the Commander\u2019s onboard announcements: Are pilots provided with special vocal training? Because they all sound so charismatic and commanding! <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaha! The sound of the pilot\u2019s voice has nothing to do with special training \u2014 the microphone in the cockpit is close to your mouth and there\u2019s a sponge at the end to prevent the sound from exploding, and also for hygiene reasons. So probably anyone would sound charismatic! As far as sounding \u201ccommanding\u201d, we\u2019re not making up stuff as we go: There\u2019s a script that contains announcements covering all phases and facets of the flight. Unless something extraordinary happens, we\u2019re usually following that script. The script also ensures that every passenger on every Turkish Airlines flight receives the same information in the same way. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt is said that Formula 1 drivers lose four to five kilos in every race. Does flying have this effect on you? Are there any other notable physical\/mental impacts?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSome universities operate Flight Training Departments, which you can enter and learn how to become a pilot while taking regular courses as well. You can also become a pilot by attending courses at private schools for a fee. In my case, I applied to Turkish Airlines when it announced its first officer recruitment. I was accepted and, in 2016, trained at the Turkish Airlines Flight Academy in Ayd\u0131n. I also had additional training at the Turkish Airlines training center in Istanbul and I\u2019ve been working as a pilot since 2018. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
So, you completed all your training with Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYes, I received all my pilot training with Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines operates its own flying academy in Ayd\u0131n, which is where my first pilot and flight training took place, followed by aircraft-type training. As you may know, Turkish Airlines operates a variety of aircraft types, with Airbus and Boeing being the two major suppliers. Our fleet includes the wide-body Airbus A330 and Airbus A350 aircraft, the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 aircraft, and the narrow body the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. I fly and serve as a first officer on the Airbus A320.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat was the most challenging aspect of the training?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe instruction was superb, although the theoretical aspects were less appealing \u2014 those courses were not any more difficult for me, but it wasn\u2019t as engaging to be on the ground studying. But of course, the theoretical aspects are fundamental to the actual flying!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes every student graduate?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n \n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn every flight school, there\u2019s the possibility that students might not graduate. When you undertake flight training with Turkish Airlines, you go through several stages, including psychomotor tests, written examinations, and on-site interviews. However, not everyone who starts flight school will end up becoming a pilot; students can drop out of the training or be dismissed for a variety of reasons.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nYou said that you studied in Ayd\u0131n. Was the Turkish Airlines facility a boarding school?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYes, more or less. We didn\u2019t have dormitory facilities within the school, but Turkish Airlines pays for students to stay in contracted hotels. Of course, there is a more established order there and there\u2019s always a hotel booked; we always stayed at the same hotel. So, in some ways, it was similar to a boarding school.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat do you remember about your first flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you\u2019re taking your first flight, there\u2019s an instructor pilot next to you, giving you instructions. So, you\u2019re excited about piloting an actual aircraft for the first time, but \u2014 at least in my case \u2014 you\u2019re also concentrating on following the procedures correctly. So, there I was, extremely and intently focused on the procedures and operations, and doing the various countdowns. I honestly can\u2019t remember that much about it but I do remember that at a certain point in the process, the Commander turned to me and said, “Hold on a minute and look out the window. You\u2019re flying, do you realize that?”. That was pretty incredible. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIn your opinion, what are the obstacles, drawbacks, and benefits of being a pilot? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor me, the benefits of being a pilot include the opportunity to travel to different countries in different time zones and see different places. We can meet all types of people, experience various cultures. An obstacle or drawback is that time zone differences can affect sleep patterns, and you must plan accordingly. Your schedule is going to vary from that of your family and friends and you have to adjust to that. As pilots, we generally have monthly schedules, but these can change: We have to be adaptable, but at the same time we have to be extremely organized. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhen and where was your longest flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWide-body aircraft tend to be deployed for transoceanic journeys, but I fly on narrower body aircraft, so our flight networks have shorter ranges. Our aircraft types typically fly to places that are a maximum of six hours away. The farthest locations served by the Airbus A320 aircraft include Bishkek and Astana in Central Asia, Lisbon and Porto in the west. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHave you experienced any extraordinary events \u2014 positive or negative \u2014 in the air?<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHonestly \u2014 and fortunately \u2014 nothing particularly significant or surprising has occurred in the air while I\u2019ve been flying. I don’t want anything unusual to happen when I\u2019m flying, and I hope it doesn’t. There are competent pilots and lucky pilots: We all strive to be competent pilots, and we all hope to be lucky pilots! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWe have a question about the Commander\u2019s onboard announcements: Are pilots provided with special vocal training? Because they all sound so charismatic and commanding! <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaha! The sound of the pilot\u2019s voice has nothing to do with special training \u2014 the microphone in the cockpit is close to your mouth and there\u2019s a sponge at the end to prevent the sound from exploding, and also for hygiene reasons. So probably anyone would sound charismatic! As far as sounding \u201ccommanding\u201d, we\u2019re not making up stuff as we go: There\u2019s a script that contains announcements covering all phases and facets of the flight. Unless something extraordinary happens, we\u2019re usually following that script. The script also ensures that every passenger on every Turkish Airlines flight receives the same information in the same way. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt is said that Formula 1 drivers lose four to five kilos in every race. Does flying have this effect on you? Are there any other notable physical\/mental impacts?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYes, I received all my pilot training with Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines operates its own flying academy in Ayd\u0131n, which is where my first pilot and flight training took place, followed by aircraft-type training. As you may know, Turkish Airlines operates a variety of aircraft types, with Airbus and Boeing being the two major suppliers. Our fleet includes the wide-body Airbus A330 and Airbus A350 aircraft, the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 aircraft, and the narrow body the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. I fly and serve as a first officer on the Airbus A320.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
What was the most challenging aspect of the training?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe instruction was superb, although the theoretical aspects were less appealing \u2014 those courses were not any more difficult for me, but it wasn\u2019t as engaging to be on the ground studying. But of course, the theoretical aspects are fundamental to the actual flying!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes every student graduate?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n \n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn every flight school, there\u2019s the possibility that students might not graduate. When you undertake flight training with Turkish Airlines, you go through several stages, including psychomotor tests, written examinations, and on-site interviews. However, not everyone who starts flight school will end up becoming a pilot; students can drop out of the training or be dismissed for a variety of reasons.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nYou said that you studied in Ayd\u0131n. Was the Turkish Airlines facility a boarding school?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYes, more or less. We didn\u2019t have dormitory facilities within the school, but Turkish Airlines pays for students to stay in contracted hotels. Of course, there is a more established order there and there\u2019s always a hotel booked; we always stayed at the same hotel. So, in some ways, it was similar to a boarding school.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat do you remember about your first flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you\u2019re taking your first flight, there\u2019s an instructor pilot next to you, giving you instructions. So, you\u2019re excited about piloting an actual aircraft for the first time, but \u2014 at least in my case \u2014 you\u2019re also concentrating on following the procedures correctly. So, there I was, extremely and intently focused on the procedures and operations, and doing the various countdowns. I honestly can\u2019t remember that much about it but I do remember that at a certain point in the process, the Commander turned to me and said, “Hold on a minute and look out the window. You\u2019re flying, do you realize that?”. That was pretty incredible. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIn your opinion, what are the obstacles, drawbacks, and benefits of being a pilot? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor me, the benefits of being a pilot include the opportunity to travel to different countries in different time zones and see different places. We can meet all types of people, experience various cultures. An obstacle or drawback is that time zone differences can affect sleep patterns, and you must plan accordingly. Your schedule is going to vary from that of your family and friends and you have to adjust to that. As pilots, we generally have monthly schedules, but these can change: We have to be adaptable, but at the same time we have to be extremely organized. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhen and where was your longest flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWide-body aircraft tend to be deployed for transoceanic journeys, but I fly on narrower body aircraft, so our flight networks have shorter ranges. Our aircraft types typically fly to places that are a maximum of six hours away. The farthest locations served by the Airbus A320 aircraft include Bishkek and Astana in Central Asia, Lisbon and Porto in the west. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHave you experienced any extraordinary events \u2014 positive or negative \u2014 in the air?<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHonestly \u2014 and fortunately \u2014 nothing particularly significant or surprising has occurred in the air while I\u2019ve been flying. I don’t want anything unusual to happen when I\u2019m flying, and I hope it doesn’t. There are competent pilots and lucky pilots: We all strive to be competent pilots, and we all hope to be lucky pilots! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWe have a question about the Commander\u2019s onboard announcements: Are pilots provided with special vocal training? Because they all sound so charismatic and commanding! <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaha! The sound of the pilot\u2019s voice has nothing to do with special training \u2014 the microphone in the cockpit is close to your mouth and there\u2019s a sponge at the end to prevent the sound from exploding, and also for hygiene reasons. So probably anyone would sound charismatic! As far as sounding \u201ccommanding\u201d, we\u2019re not making up stuff as we go: There\u2019s a script that contains announcements covering all phases and facets of the flight. Unless something extraordinary happens, we\u2019re usually following that script. The script also ensures that every passenger on every Turkish Airlines flight receives the same information in the same way. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt is said that Formula 1 drivers lose four to five kilos in every race. Does flying have this effect on you? Are there any other notable physical\/mental impacts?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe instruction was superb, although the theoretical aspects were less appealing \u2014 those courses were not any more difficult for me, but it wasn\u2019t as engaging to be on the ground studying. But of course, the theoretical aspects are fundamental to the actual flying!\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Does every student graduate?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n \n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn every flight school, there\u2019s the possibility that students might not graduate. When you undertake flight training with Turkish Airlines, you go through several stages, including psychomotor tests, written examinations, and on-site interviews. However, not everyone who starts flight school will end up becoming a pilot; students can drop out of the training or be dismissed for a variety of reasons.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nYou said that you studied in Ayd\u0131n. Was the Turkish Airlines facility a boarding school?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYes, more or less. We didn\u2019t have dormitory facilities within the school, but Turkish Airlines pays for students to stay in contracted hotels. Of course, there is a more established order there and there\u2019s always a hotel booked; we always stayed at the same hotel. So, in some ways, it was similar to a boarding school.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat do you remember about your first flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you\u2019re taking your first flight, there\u2019s an instructor pilot next to you, giving you instructions. So, you\u2019re excited about piloting an actual aircraft for the first time, but \u2014 at least in my case \u2014 you\u2019re also concentrating on following the procedures correctly. So, there I was, extremely and intently focused on the procedures and operations, and doing the various countdowns. I honestly can\u2019t remember that much about it but I do remember that at a certain point in the process, the Commander turned to me and said, “Hold on a minute and look out the window. You\u2019re flying, do you realize that?”. That was pretty incredible. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIn your opinion, what are the obstacles, drawbacks, and benefits of being a pilot? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor me, the benefits of being a pilot include the opportunity to travel to different countries in different time zones and see different places. We can meet all types of people, experience various cultures. An obstacle or drawback is that time zone differences can affect sleep patterns, and you must plan accordingly. Your schedule is going to vary from that of your family and friends and you have to adjust to that. As pilots, we generally have monthly schedules, but these can change: We have to be adaptable, but at the same time we have to be extremely organized. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhen and where was your longest flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWide-body aircraft tend to be deployed for transoceanic journeys, but I fly on narrower body aircraft, so our flight networks have shorter ranges. Our aircraft types typically fly to places that are a maximum of six hours away. The farthest locations served by the Airbus A320 aircraft include Bishkek and Astana in Central Asia, Lisbon and Porto in the west. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHave you experienced any extraordinary events \u2014 positive or negative \u2014 in the air?<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHonestly \u2014 and fortunately \u2014 nothing particularly significant or surprising has occurred in the air while I\u2019ve been flying. I don’t want anything unusual to happen when I\u2019m flying, and I hope it doesn’t. There are competent pilots and lucky pilots: We all strive to be competent pilots, and we all hope to be lucky pilots! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWe have a question about the Commander\u2019s onboard announcements: Are pilots provided with special vocal training? Because they all sound so charismatic and commanding! <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaha! The sound of the pilot\u2019s voice has nothing to do with special training \u2014 the microphone in the cockpit is close to your mouth and there\u2019s a sponge at the end to prevent the sound from exploding, and also for hygiene reasons. So probably anyone would sound charismatic! As far as sounding \u201ccommanding\u201d, we\u2019re not making up stuff as we go: There\u2019s a script that contains announcements covering all phases and facets of the flight. Unless something extraordinary happens, we\u2019re usually following that script. The script also ensures that every passenger on every Turkish Airlines flight receives the same information in the same way. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt is said that Formula 1 drivers lose four to five kilos in every race. Does flying have this effect on you? Are there any other notable physical\/mental impacts?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
In every flight school, there\u2019s the possibility that students might not graduate. When you undertake flight training with Turkish Airlines, you go through several stages, including psychomotor tests, written examinations, and on-site interviews. However, not everyone who starts flight school will end up becoming a pilot; students can drop out of the training or be dismissed for a variety of reasons.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
You said that you studied in Ayd\u0131n. Was the Turkish Airlines facility a boarding school?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYes, more or less. We didn\u2019t have dormitory facilities within the school, but Turkish Airlines pays for students to stay in contracted hotels. Of course, there is a more established order there and there\u2019s always a hotel booked; we always stayed at the same hotel. So, in some ways, it was similar to a boarding school.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat do you remember about your first flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you\u2019re taking your first flight, there\u2019s an instructor pilot next to you, giving you instructions. So, you\u2019re excited about piloting an actual aircraft for the first time, but \u2014 at least in my case \u2014 you\u2019re also concentrating on following the procedures correctly. So, there I was, extremely and intently focused on the procedures and operations, and doing the various countdowns. I honestly can\u2019t remember that much about it but I do remember that at a certain point in the process, the Commander turned to me and said, “Hold on a minute and look out the window. You\u2019re flying, do you realize that?”. That was pretty incredible. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIn your opinion, what are the obstacles, drawbacks, and benefits of being a pilot? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor me, the benefits of being a pilot include the opportunity to travel to different countries in different time zones and see different places. We can meet all types of people, experience various cultures. An obstacle or drawback is that time zone differences can affect sleep patterns, and you must plan accordingly. Your schedule is going to vary from that of your family and friends and you have to adjust to that. As pilots, we generally have monthly schedules, but these can change: We have to be adaptable, but at the same time we have to be extremely organized. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhen and where was your longest flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWide-body aircraft tend to be deployed for transoceanic journeys, but I fly on narrower body aircraft, so our flight networks have shorter ranges. Our aircraft types typically fly to places that are a maximum of six hours away. The farthest locations served by the Airbus A320 aircraft include Bishkek and Astana in Central Asia, Lisbon and Porto in the west. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHave you experienced any extraordinary events \u2014 positive or negative \u2014 in the air?<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHonestly \u2014 and fortunately \u2014 nothing particularly significant or surprising has occurred in the air while I\u2019ve been flying. I don’t want anything unusual to happen when I\u2019m flying, and I hope it doesn’t. There are competent pilots and lucky pilots: We all strive to be competent pilots, and we all hope to be lucky pilots! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWe have a question about the Commander\u2019s onboard announcements: Are pilots provided with special vocal training? Because they all sound so charismatic and commanding! <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaha! The sound of the pilot\u2019s voice has nothing to do with special training \u2014 the microphone in the cockpit is close to your mouth and there\u2019s a sponge at the end to prevent the sound from exploding, and also for hygiene reasons. So probably anyone would sound charismatic! As far as sounding \u201ccommanding\u201d, we\u2019re not making up stuff as we go: There\u2019s a script that contains announcements covering all phases and facets of the flight. Unless something extraordinary happens, we\u2019re usually following that script. The script also ensures that every passenger on every Turkish Airlines flight receives the same information in the same way. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt is said that Formula 1 drivers lose four to five kilos in every race. Does flying have this effect on you? Are there any other notable physical\/mental impacts?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYes, more or less. We didn\u2019t have dormitory facilities within the school, but Turkish Airlines pays for students to stay in contracted hotels. Of course, there is a more established order there and there\u2019s always a hotel booked; we always stayed at the same hotel. So, in some ways, it was similar to a boarding school.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
What do you remember about your first flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you\u2019re taking your first flight, there\u2019s an instructor pilot next to you, giving you instructions. So, you\u2019re excited about piloting an actual aircraft for the first time, but \u2014 at least in my case \u2014 you\u2019re also concentrating on following the procedures correctly. So, there I was, extremely and intently focused on the procedures and operations, and doing the various countdowns. I honestly can\u2019t remember that much about it but I do remember that at a certain point in the process, the Commander turned to me and said, “Hold on a minute and look out the window. You\u2019re flying, do you realize that?”. That was pretty incredible. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIn your opinion, what are the obstacles, drawbacks, and benefits of being a pilot? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor me, the benefits of being a pilot include the opportunity to travel to different countries in different time zones and see different places. We can meet all types of people, experience various cultures. An obstacle or drawback is that time zone differences can affect sleep patterns, and you must plan accordingly. Your schedule is going to vary from that of your family and friends and you have to adjust to that. As pilots, we generally have monthly schedules, but these can change: We have to be adaptable, but at the same time we have to be extremely organized. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhen and where was your longest flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWide-body aircraft tend to be deployed for transoceanic journeys, but I fly on narrower body aircraft, so our flight networks have shorter ranges. Our aircraft types typically fly to places that are a maximum of six hours away. The farthest locations served by the Airbus A320 aircraft include Bishkek and Astana in Central Asia, Lisbon and Porto in the west. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHave you experienced any extraordinary events \u2014 positive or negative \u2014 in the air?<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHonestly \u2014 and fortunately \u2014 nothing particularly significant or surprising has occurred in the air while I\u2019ve been flying. I don’t want anything unusual to happen when I\u2019m flying, and I hope it doesn’t. There are competent pilots and lucky pilots: We all strive to be competent pilots, and we all hope to be lucky pilots! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWe have a question about the Commander\u2019s onboard announcements: Are pilots provided with special vocal training? Because they all sound so charismatic and commanding! <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaha! The sound of the pilot\u2019s voice has nothing to do with special training \u2014 the microphone in the cockpit is close to your mouth and there\u2019s a sponge at the end to prevent the sound from exploding, and also for hygiene reasons. So probably anyone would sound charismatic! As far as sounding \u201ccommanding\u201d, we\u2019re not making up stuff as we go: There\u2019s a script that contains announcements covering all phases and facets of the flight. Unless something extraordinary happens, we\u2019re usually following that script. The script also ensures that every passenger on every Turkish Airlines flight receives the same information in the same way. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt is said that Formula 1 drivers lose four to five kilos in every race. Does flying have this effect on you? Are there any other notable physical\/mental impacts?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you\u2019re taking your first flight, there\u2019s an instructor pilot next to you, giving you instructions. So, you\u2019re excited about piloting an actual aircraft for the first time, but \u2014 at least in my case \u2014 you\u2019re also concentrating on following the procedures correctly. So, there I was, extremely and intently focused on the procedures and operations, and doing the various countdowns. I honestly can\u2019t remember that much about it but I do remember that at a certain point in the process, the Commander turned to me and said, “Hold on a minute and look out the window. You\u2019re flying, do you realize that?”. That was pretty incredible. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
In your opinion, what are the obstacles, drawbacks, and benefits of being a pilot? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor me, the benefits of being a pilot include the opportunity to travel to different countries in different time zones and see different places. We can meet all types of people, experience various cultures. An obstacle or drawback is that time zone differences can affect sleep patterns, and you must plan accordingly. Your schedule is going to vary from that of your family and friends and you have to adjust to that. As pilots, we generally have monthly schedules, but these can change: We have to be adaptable, but at the same time we have to be extremely organized. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhen and where was your longest flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWide-body aircraft tend to be deployed for transoceanic journeys, but I fly on narrower body aircraft, so our flight networks have shorter ranges. Our aircraft types typically fly to places that are a maximum of six hours away. The farthest locations served by the Airbus A320 aircraft include Bishkek and Astana in Central Asia, Lisbon and Porto in the west. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHave you experienced any extraordinary events \u2014 positive or negative \u2014 in the air?<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHonestly \u2014 and fortunately \u2014 nothing particularly significant or surprising has occurred in the air while I\u2019ve been flying. I don’t want anything unusual to happen when I\u2019m flying, and I hope it doesn’t. There are competent pilots and lucky pilots: We all strive to be competent pilots, and we all hope to be lucky pilots! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWe have a question about the Commander\u2019s onboard announcements: Are pilots provided with special vocal training? Because they all sound so charismatic and commanding! <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaha! The sound of the pilot\u2019s voice has nothing to do with special training \u2014 the microphone in the cockpit is close to your mouth and there\u2019s a sponge at the end to prevent the sound from exploding, and also for hygiene reasons. So probably anyone would sound charismatic! As far as sounding \u201ccommanding\u201d, we\u2019re not making up stuff as we go: There\u2019s a script that contains announcements covering all phases and facets of the flight. Unless something extraordinary happens, we\u2019re usually following that script. The script also ensures that every passenger on every Turkish Airlines flight receives the same information in the same way. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt is said that Formula 1 drivers lose four to five kilos in every race. Does flying have this effect on you? Are there any other notable physical\/mental impacts?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor me, the benefits of being a pilot include the opportunity to travel to different countries in different time zones and see different places. We can meet all types of people, experience various cultures. An obstacle or drawback is that time zone differences can affect sleep patterns, and you must plan accordingly. Your schedule is going to vary from that of your family and friends and you have to adjust to that. As pilots, we generally have monthly schedules, but these can change: We have to be adaptable, but at the same time we have to be extremely organized. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
When and where was your longest flight?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWide-body aircraft tend to be deployed for transoceanic journeys, but I fly on narrower body aircraft, so our flight networks have shorter ranges. Our aircraft types typically fly to places that are a maximum of six hours away. The farthest locations served by the Airbus A320 aircraft include Bishkek and Astana in Central Asia, Lisbon and Porto in the west. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHave you experienced any extraordinary events \u2014 positive or negative \u2014 in the air?<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHonestly \u2014 and fortunately \u2014 nothing particularly significant or surprising has occurred in the air while I\u2019ve been flying. I don’t want anything unusual to happen when I\u2019m flying, and I hope it doesn’t. There are competent pilots and lucky pilots: We all strive to be competent pilots, and we all hope to be lucky pilots! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWe have a question about the Commander\u2019s onboard announcements: Are pilots provided with special vocal training? Because they all sound so charismatic and commanding! <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaha! The sound of the pilot\u2019s voice has nothing to do with special training \u2014 the microphone in the cockpit is close to your mouth and there\u2019s a sponge at the end to prevent the sound from exploding, and also for hygiene reasons. So probably anyone would sound charismatic! As far as sounding \u201ccommanding\u201d, we\u2019re not making up stuff as we go: There\u2019s a script that contains announcements covering all phases and facets of the flight. Unless something extraordinary happens, we\u2019re usually following that script. The script also ensures that every passenger on every Turkish Airlines flight receives the same information in the same way. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt is said that Formula 1 drivers lose four to five kilos in every race. Does flying have this effect on you? Are there any other notable physical\/mental impacts?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWide-body aircraft tend to be deployed for transoceanic journeys, but I fly on narrower body aircraft, so our flight networks have shorter ranges. Our aircraft types typically fly to places that are a maximum of six hours away. The farthest locations served by the Airbus A320 aircraft include Bishkek and Astana in Central Asia, Lisbon and Porto in the west. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Have you experienced any extraordinary events \u2014 positive or negative \u2014 in the air?<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHonestly \u2014 and fortunately \u2014 nothing particularly significant or surprising has occurred in the air while I\u2019ve been flying. I don’t want anything unusual to happen when I\u2019m flying, and I hope it doesn’t. There are competent pilots and lucky pilots: We all strive to be competent pilots, and we all hope to be lucky pilots! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWe have a question about the Commander\u2019s onboard announcements: Are pilots provided with special vocal training? Because they all sound so charismatic and commanding! <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaha! The sound of the pilot\u2019s voice has nothing to do with special training \u2014 the microphone in the cockpit is close to your mouth and there\u2019s a sponge at the end to prevent the sound from exploding, and also for hygiene reasons. So probably anyone would sound charismatic! As far as sounding \u201ccommanding\u201d, we\u2019re not making up stuff as we go: There\u2019s a script that contains announcements covering all phases and facets of the flight. Unless something extraordinary happens, we\u2019re usually following that script. The script also ensures that every passenger on every Turkish Airlines flight receives the same information in the same way. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt is said that Formula 1 drivers lose four to five kilos in every race. Does flying have this effect on you? Are there any other notable physical\/mental impacts?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHonestly \u2014 and fortunately \u2014 nothing particularly significant or surprising has occurred in the air while I\u2019ve been flying. I don’t want anything unusual to happen when I\u2019m flying, and I hope it doesn’t. There are competent pilots and lucky pilots: We all strive to be competent pilots, and we all hope to be lucky pilots! \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
We have a question about the Commander\u2019s onboard announcements: Are pilots provided with special vocal training? Because they all sound so charismatic and commanding! <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaha! The sound of the pilot\u2019s voice has nothing to do with special training \u2014 the microphone in the cockpit is close to your mouth and there\u2019s a sponge at the end to prevent the sound from exploding, and also for hygiene reasons. So probably anyone would sound charismatic! As far as sounding \u201ccommanding\u201d, we\u2019re not making up stuff as we go: There\u2019s a script that contains announcements covering all phases and facets of the flight. Unless something extraordinary happens, we\u2019re usually following that script. The script also ensures that every passenger on every Turkish Airlines flight receives the same information in the same way. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt is said that Formula 1 drivers lose four to five kilos in every race. Does flying have this effect on you? Are there any other notable physical\/mental impacts?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHaha! The sound of the pilot\u2019s voice has nothing to do with special training \u2014 the microphone in the cockpit is close to your mouth and there\u2019s a sponge at the end to prevent the sound from exploding, and also for hygiene reasons. So probably anyone would sound charismatic! As far as sounding \u201ccommanding\u201d, we\u2019re not making up stuff as we go: There\u2019s a script that contains announcements covering all phases and facets of the flight. Unless something extraordinary happens, we\u2019re usually following that script. The script also ensures that every passenger on every Turkish Airlines flight receives the same information in the same way. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
It is said that Formula 1 drivers lose four to five kilos in every race. Does flying have this effect on you? Are there any other notable physical\/mental impacts?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFlying a passenger aircraft is not the same as driving in the F1. Of course, flying has a physiological effect, because of the high altitude \u2014 we\u2019re usually 5,000 or 6,000 feet up and, as a pilot, you might ascend and descend up to four times per day. This can certainly impact the body; for instance, we might experience edema, mostly due to the constant pressure change. But, unlike racing car drivers, we\u2019re in climate-controlled conditions. We\u2019re cool in the summer and warm in the winter. On the other hand, we do fly small, single-engine aircraft when we\u2019re in the flight training phase; those planes don\u2019t usually have air conditioners and Ayd\u0131n can get really hot, especially in the summer. I remember sweating a lot in the cockpit when I trained in Ayd\u0131n. I didn\u2019t lose five or six kilos, but I probably shed one or two.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
OK, so flying a passenger aircraft is more about mental discipline and endurance than physical exertion. How do you manage that aspect?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I said earlier, I try to stay organized. I plan my days but I\u2019m also able to shift these plans when necessary. I try to bring this mindset to the cockpit: in other words, to be thoroughly prepared but also prepared for the unexpected. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
If you wake up on Sunday and you don’t have a flight, what do you do? Have you already planned activities for that day? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDoes your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSo, I usually have a monthly schedule; if I don\u2019t have flights or any other type of official duties, I have plans with my family. So, whether it\u2019s Sunday or any other day that I have free, I\u2019m with my wife and my son, who is three and a half years old. I try to spend as much time as possible with him and, since he\u2019s not yet in school, we\u2019re able to spend quite a lot of time together. Being with my son is great, and it gives me a really nice counterbalance to job- and life-related stress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Does your son know you’re a pilot? I mean, does he understand what you do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYes, he understands. When he started talking, he would make comments when airplanes passed overhead, saying \u201cDad, the airplane.\u201d At this point, he does understand that I\u2019m a pilot, although I\u2019m not sure he knows exactly what that entails, other than that I \u201cdrive\u201d the plane and that I wear a uniform! Sometimes he\u2019ll say, \u201cI’m going to be a pilot too\u201d, maybe because he likes my uniform and likes the idea of flying. I think he misses me when I go to work though; I know I miss him and it\u2019s tough to leave him, especially because he\u2019s so young. In any case, I hope that when he grows up, he\u2019ll be whatever he decides he wants to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you tell us a bit about life in the cockpit? For example, if you\u2019re on a six-hour flight, do you read or listen to music? What about meals? How does this work?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMehmet Kalafat explains how he spends time in the cockpit during the flight.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLet’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
When we\u2019re in the cockpit, we are responsible for ensuring that the flight goes smoothly and safely. We\u2019re on duty; we\u2019re constantly monitoring the flight instruments, the flight course, and the weather. So, even on longer flights, we\u2019re not reading books or newspapers, we\u2019re not listening to music, watching movies, or anything like that. On wide-body aircraft \u2014 which undertake flights exceeding six hours \u2014 there\u2019s an opportunity to rest since there are extra crew on board. But on narrow-body flights, we generally don\u2019t have a chance to leave the cockpit except to use the restroom.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Let’s move on to another topic \u2013 one that\u2019s the subject of urban legends: the autopilot!<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWell, if we asked passengers if they\u2019d like to fly in an airplane with no pilot on board, they\u2019d probably say no. And in fact, though the autopilot is a technology that does reduce the effort required by the pilot, the pilot’s main task is to observe the behavior of the autopilot. Because weather, flight conditions, and fuel conditions can change, the pilot is constantly observing these elements, along with engine hours and flight parameters, while ensuring that the autopilot is functioning correctly. During take-offs and landings, pilots conduct all operations. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Speaking of landing and take-off, do you find that one is more stressful than the other?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI can\u2019t say that there\u2019s any difference in the stress level between the landing or the take-off but the difficulty of the operation changes according to the weather conditions. Landing requires a little more concentration when there\u2019s wind. For example, if we\u2019re flying from Istanbul to Oslo and it\u2019s stormy and rainy in Istanbul, and sunny in Oslo, then the take-off will be more stressful than the landing. The important factor is the weather at the destination or departure airport. But in general, I find that landing the aircraft is more enjoyable than the take-off.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Do you prefer daytime or nighttime flights? Long or short flights?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI think I\u2019m more of a \u201cnight owl\u201d and that’s why I like night flights a little better. As for long versus short flights, I prefer flights that are in between two and a half and three hours.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
How many flights do you operate in a month?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn average, the monthly program is between 70 and 90 hours, depending on the intensity of the month and season. Our flying schedule is more relaxed in the winter months; in the summer months, our schedule is more intensive. There are already certain annual limits, and civil aviation rules such as a maximum of 900 hours in 12 months. Apart from this, we can sometimes open four legs per month. When I say four legs, we can perform four landings and take-offs. Or for instance, we can go to a single location and perform a layover mission there. So, it wouldn\u2019t be accurate to say that there\u2019s an average, frankly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
As passengers, we\u2019re supposed to be at the airport an hour before domestic flights and two hours before international flights. How many hours before the flight do you need to be at the airport?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur preparation for the flight doesn\u2019t start at the airport: We begin preparing at least eight to 10 hours in advance, by going to bed and getting our sleep. But we generally arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours prior to the flight departure; the last sign-in time for Istanbul Airport is an hour and 15 minutes before take-off. However, because we need to examine the flight plan and situation, observe the weather, and perform the pre-flight briefing, we come to the airport at least 90 minutes to two hours before the flight.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do you spend your layovers? For instance, if you land at a destination early in the morning, do you sleep and then walk around the city? Or do you prioritize rest?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Rest is definitely a priority for us. Because of the work we do, we have to be energetic, alert and rested. There simply isn\u2019t enough time to do everything \u2014 to rest, to see things, etc. So the most important thing is to be able to rest. If we do that, and there\u2019s time left over, maybe, as you said, we can take a walk around the hotel or take the subway to the city center and see the sights there.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Can you describe the cooperation between cabin and cockpit crew during the flight? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs cabin and cockpit, our primary task is to ensure that the flight operation proceeds smoothly and safely. Our cabin crew works in the cabin, with the passengers, and we work for the same purpose in the cockpit. Cabin and cockpit crew act as a team, in any case, during the flight, whether it\u2019s smooth or whether there\u2019s any disruption or emergency. I see us as a team of professionals. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Speaking of flying and traveling, how many countries have you been to?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s necessary to meet certain health conditions during the pilot application phase. Are there any pilots who had certain conditions (meniscus, hernia, psoriasis) who were still able to fly after they stepped into the profession?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOf course. If a pilot\u2019s condition is such that it doesn\u2019t hinder their movement or if they have received certain treatments for that condition, they can fly. Pilots who have meniscus, herniated discs or any other health problems, who then receive treatment, will be directed by the company to a flight readiness\/airworthiness examination. In hospitals authorized by civil aviation, medical examinations are conducted to observe whether pilots have any conditions that would preclude them from flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nDo you have contact with pilots from other airlines when you\u2019re in the field or in a hotel? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time we\u2019re on duty \u2014 and we\u2019re also trying to fulfill our operational tasks quickly and efficiently \u2014 so we don\u2019t actually come across each other that often. Also, since we have our own terminal in Istanbul, there\u2019s not an environment where pilots from different companies come together. But generally, when we\u2019re boarding flights or when we see each other in the airport, we\u2019ll greet each other and say, \u201cHave a good flight\u201d.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nOur last question is about pilot retirement. What is the pilot retirement process at Turkish Airlines?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For us, the retirement age is 65: a pilot who has turned 65 cannot continue flying. However, we don\u2019t have to completely disconnect from aviation after the age of 65 \u2014 we can work as flight instructors in simulators. We have many pilots who do this.\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Let\u2019s start with the usual question \u2013 can you tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Mehmet Kalafat and I fly as a first officer on the Airbus A320 aircraft. My hometown is Gelibolu (Gallipoli), in \u00c7anakkale. I went to university in Istanbul, and now I work for Turkish Airlines. My first job […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":42660,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1034,1080],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-44580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-interviews","8":"category-news-from-the-turkish-airlines-team"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44580"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44587,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44580\/revisions\/44587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.turkishairlines.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo be honest, I\u2019ve never counted, because landing and taking off and landing in a country also counts. But we fly to between 10 and 15 different countries per month, so there are flights if we look at them that way. As for the places I have visited and had the chance to see, I haven\u2019t counted them, but I\u2019ve probably been to most of the places in Europe where Turkish Airlines flies. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Do you follow a fitness or sports regime to stay fit? And are there physical conditions that you have to meet? <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have such conditions, but in order to have a pilot’s license and to fly for Turkish Airlines, you need to have a certain health certificate, and this health certificate is checked annually; we undergo a detailed health check every year that includes blood values, heart rhythm, etc. Since we\u2019re constantly in the air, we pay a little more attention to what we eat and drink; today I\u2019ll be landing at noon and I\u2019ll eat my meals on the plane. Fortunately, airplane food is very tasty. Other than that, unfortunately, I don’t have any special routines. After my son was born, my sports activities revolved around playing and running with him. So I\u2019m not involved with a particular sport but I do love walking. Maybe that helps my fitness! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n