IN THIS SPECIAL AVGEEK SERIES, FLIGHT CHIC GUEST WRITER RIDA KHAN HAS CANDID CONVERSATIONS WITH PILOTS WHO SHARE THEIR PASSION FOR FLIGHT AND WHAT INSPIRED THEM TO PURSUE A LIFE IN THE CLOUDS.
To most people, the sky is the limit. To those who love flying, the sky is home. Once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards. There you find your wings. All you have to do is FLY.
Pilot Marco Buratti is 27 years old, born and raised in the Northern Italian village Montecchio Emilia . He decided he wanted to fly planes when he was eight and left the village at 19 to pursue his aviation studies. He credits his parents and his sister with supporting him to make his aviation dream come true.
Q: Tell us about your career starting off as a pilot.
Buratti: That moment when you get your certificate and have an instructor pin wings on your chest is great. You are proud of yourself and of the work you did to get there. But it is important to the declaration is just the beginning of our learning. You never stop learning in the pilot’s career.
Q: What’s the first thing you think about when you’re headed out to fly a plane?
Buratti: It depends—if the flight is early in the morning..coffee! Kidding aside, the main thing rolling around in my mind when I am in the car to the airport is whether I am clear on all the variables of the flight: weather, loading, fuel, etc. This is extremely important. Having a good picture to brief the crew before the flight is a crucial part of our job. Every pilot studies the data provided by the office before the flight.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
Buratti: Every day my job gives me the best ever gift: an amazing view of the most beautiful places on our globe. One day it’s the Alps, the next day it’s flying under the Norther Lights. It’s pure magic. By the way, did you know that the pyramids are visible from an altitude of 11 kilometres? I try my best every day to share these views. The other thing is meeting
The other thing is meeting new people every day from different cultures, different parts of the world. It’s a very good opportunity to understand how we differ and how many ways we are similar at the same time.
Q: Would you say that the Pilot’s uniform is just a dress code or a responsibility?
Buratti: The uniform is an important dress code for our job, which represents the hierarchy. During normal operations, everyone does their job according to standard procedures. In the case of an emergency, the roles have to be defined and each member of the crew has to do what his chief commands in order to make the right decisions and ensure flight safety.
Q: What do you think are the qualities required to be a good pilot?
Buratti: Determination is key. Anyone wanting to be a pilot has to be positive, not throw in the towel when things get hard, or when you have personal problems, or if the market is bad. If you received good training, you’ll see good results. Basically, you have to be in love with this career. You have to be married to it!
Q: Do you enjoy travelling more as a passenger or as a pilot?
Buratti: To be honest, every time I fly as a passenger I fall asleep as soon as the first engine turns on. I don’t have radio communication, checks to do, and the same amazing view of the landscape. It’s a little boring so I use the time to get some rest. Being at the front of the plane is a totally different story. It’s something that everyone should get to experience once in their lives, but, of course, because of safety requirements visits to the flight deck are no longer allowed. That’s why I share my pictures on Instagram. It lets everyone see what it means to be a pilot!
Q: What are your future goals?
Buratti: I work day to day to earn my four stripes. That’s the goal of every pilot, but you have to give your best every day during duty time to earn it. You also need to commit to it in your everyday life, be trustworthy and respectable. It’s a big responsibility and you have to first prove yourself.
[ends]
During my wonderful conversation with pilot Marco Buratti I was impressed by his optimism and positivity. He’s obviously action-oriented and believes in maintaining a positive vision to achieve his goals.
You can follow Pilot Marco Barotti on Instagram: @pilotburro
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ0CqVJAuO_/?taken-by=pilotburro
Guest writer Rida Khan is a foodie blogger with a hunger for a big slice of the skies. A native of Bhopal, India, Khan writes about food and aviation and is working on an airline in-flight food research project. She also posts healthy food recipes for
pilots and travellers on social media.
You can follow Rida Khan on Social Media:
Twitter : @mohd_ridakhan
Instagram : @ridakhan_21
Food Blog: Innovative Dishes On Your Way