en
Ing. Branislav Čop has over 26 years of professional experience as a commercial pilot. During his career, he flew for Fischer Air, ČSA, Travel Service, and Ryanair. He has accumulated more than 17,000 flight hours on various aircraft types, 14,000 of which were as a captain of the Boeing 737. As a type instructor on the Boeing 737, he has over 1,000 hours dedicated to type ratings and training. Currently, he works as a Boeing 737 captain for Ryanair.
Number of flight hours: 17,000
Qualifications: TRI B737, IRI (A)
In high school, I was deciding what to pursue next, and becoming a commercial pilot seemed interesting. During my time, there was only one comprehensive study path: studying at the University of Žilina. I majored in economics while simultaneously completing training as a commercial pilot. Admission required passing a rigorous selection process, including psychological tests, a flight medical exam, and achieving an average of 1.5% in mathematics.
The Boeing 737 was designed about 30 years ago and has undergone many improvements, culminating in the latest model, the 737 MAX. I have been flying this aircraft since 1996, accumulating roughly 15,000 flight hours. The 737 is a modern, highly efficient aircraft designed for 200 passengers and six crew members. It is incredibly reliable and handles exceptionally well both in the air and on the ground.
The greatest experience is flying through the first layer of clouds in the morning to find a blue sky and sunshine—a moment hidden from many people on the ground. It's a feeling that never gets old.
Being a commercial pilot takes you to many beautiful places that stay in your memory for life. During layovers, there is time to explore the cities and meet people from distant parts of the world. There are days when you depart from Prague at -25°C and land in Thailand at +35°C.
Initially, every new experience is captivating, like watching a sunrise from 14 km above the ground or the mesmerizing colors of a sunset. Flying over breathtaking landmarks like the Alps, Pyrenees, Himalayas, or Atlas Mountains makes you appreciate the beauty of Earth's surface.
Memorable moments also include flying the Hungarian Prime Minister with a classified diplomatic clearance and being welcomed on a red carpet—these are experiences you never forget.
One of the biggest advantages is that your work becomes your passion, and you must love what you do. It’s a continuous process of learning and acquiring new knowledge due to constant advancements in technology, materials, and aircraft design. As the equipment evolves dynamically, so must we. This creates a dynamic job environment where monotony has no place.
Another undeniable benefit is the financial rewards for this demanding profession.
You need to make the decision early and gradually work step by step toward your dream. Nowadays, apart from good health, you also need financial resources for training, which means making challenging decisions early in life, like taking out loans and repaying them monthly. These challenges shape young people, instilling traits like responsibility, punctuality, and precision—qualities essential for this demanding profession.
I would advise young aspiring pilots to always believe in themselves and pursue their dreams, just as generations of pilots before them have done. They have the rare opportunity to experience flying like birds in the sky.
High-quality training is the foundation for mastering the demanding training required to become a commercial pilot. The initial steps must be taken under the supervision of skilled instructors who lay a solid foundation for further development. It’s crucial to train on modern equipment to ensure a smooth training process without technical issues.
There is a significant difference between schools in terms of instructor quality and aircraft equipment. At AeroJOB, we have excellent, experienced instructors with years of training expertise. Ideally, schools should have instructors who actively fly as commercial pilots, as they possess valuable knowledge they can pass on to their students. Aircraft equipment evolves rapidly, and it is essential to have planes equipped with the latest instruments and technologies to ensure effective training and seamless transitions to more advanced aircraft.
The aviation industry is experiencing a massive boom, and the demand for pilots to operate modern aircraft is enormous. Many airlines leave their new planes grounded due to a shortage of pilots. This trend is expected to continue for several years, which is great news for aspiring pilots who can find work anywhere in the world today.
I wish them all the best in achieving their dream of flying and hope they feel happy when they wake up in the morning, looking forward to working in "the best office in the world."
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