CREW HOT SPOTS / January
CREW / January
Pilots
out of
their
office
Words by Ilze Pole
Photo by
Rūta Kalmuka
(F64)
Baltic Outlook introduces you to some of
the most important people at airBaltic – its
flight crew members, who have some of the
most interesting hobbies.
HOBBY
When I was a kid, I lived in the eastern part of
Riga, near Biķernieki Forest. In winter, we often
went to the forest to ski or ride on a sledge. There
is no doubt that cross-country skiing became my
beloved hobby thanks to my oldest brother, who
always brought me along skiing with him.
Some time ago I learned that cross-country
skiing and swimming are the best sports for
pilots, because they activate all of the body’s
muscles, and you can enjoy them no matter how
old you are. When I go out, I usually ski around
10–20 kilometres, depending on the trail and the
amount of snow. But before every trip out, you
have to make sure that your skis are properly
prepared – it’s important to look after your skis
and wax them before skiing.
Once a year, my whole family and I usually find
time and go on a ski trip to the Alps. The best
part is that many ski resorts in the Alps are fully
equipped with great cross-country skiing trails
as well.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
ARTIS RIEKSTIŅŠ (47),
captain on Airbus A220-300 aircraft,
Type rating instructor, from Latvia
126
/ airBaltic.com
Ever since early childhood, I knew that one day I
would become a pilot. In school, my class took a
field trip to Riga International Airport. It was the
first time I saw a flight simulator and got inside
an aircraft.
Back in the 1990s, we didn’t have a pilot school
here in Latvia. For this reason, I started studying
engineering at Riga Aviation University. Getting a
technical and theoretical background was a very
valuable experience. Then, step by step, I became
a pilot. I received a commercial pilot license in
1997, and after a long process of evaluation I was
hired to work for airBaltic. Three years later,
I became a captain.
One of my current responsibilities includes
flight safety procedures. This means that I
investigate various safety-related cases and
provide recommendations for how to improve
this very important aspect in the commercial
flight industry.
In my more than 20 years at airBaltic, I have
flown six different aircraft. My work has taken
me all around Europe and Asia. I was very proud
to participate in the parade in honour of Latvia’s
centenary on November 18 of last year. I flew
an Airbus A220-300 decorated in the colours of
the Latvian national flag and escorted by NATO
fighter jets.
Today I’m also a Type rating instructor, where
I teach young pilots. It’s quite a challenge to find
the right approach for each student, but I feel
content, because once they finish, my students
become pilots and join the airBaltic crew.
Words by Ilze Pole / Photos courtesy of Roberts Žubulis, Gabija
Mostvilaite, and Kristīne Hartmane
Let’s take a look at where our flight
attendants love to travel and at the fascinating
hobbies and talents that they have!
1/ Senior cabin crew
member ROBERTS
ŽUBULIS started to
work for airBaltic
three years ago. It was
a very spontaneous
decision, seeing as
he wanted to start
something completely
new in his life. He loves
the fact that there is
no routine in this job;
instead, he’s got many
fantastic colleagues
and very good
working conditions.
2/ Roberts loves
basketball! Last year,
he and his team won
the 3x3 streetball
tournament and a trip to
New York as first prize.
3/ Roberts’ favourite
airBaltic destinations
are Tel Aviv and Abu
Dhabi, which he has
visited several times.
Here he is on holiday
in Bosnia-Herzegovina
last summer.
4/ Flight attendant
GABIJA MOSTVILAITE
also joined airBaltic
three years ago, when
she realised that the
office job she had
was most certainly
not for her.
5/ Mauritius is
Gabija’s favourite
holiday destination.
Last year she spent
a whole month there
enjoying the stunning
natural environment,
good weather, and
tasty local food.
6/ Gabija has always
been keen on landscape
photography. Now
that she has more
opportunities to travel,
she explores different
countries and spends
more time with her
camera. Each place
has something special
to offer, but she prefers
to take pictures of
mountains. So, now she
can’t wait for summer,
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9
SNAPSHOTS
2
3
from the lives of our
flight attendants
Want to become
an airBaltic
flight attendant?
Join the team at
careers.airbaltic.com!
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5
6 7
8 9
when she’ll be able to travel
to Kazakhstan and Almaty.
7/ KRISTĪNE
HARTMANE has also
worked for airBaltic for
three years. She thanks
her colleague, who knew
about Kristīne’s interest
in the job and helped
her to prepare for the
selection process. Now
she’s a senior cabin crew
member and has fulfilled
her childhood dream.
8/ Cooking and baking
are some of Kristīne’s
hobbies. Here she is
with a traditional Dutch
Christmas goodie that she
made together with her
boyfriend, who is from the
Netherlands and works for
airBaltic as a pilot.
9/ Kristīne by the Dead
Sea in Israel two years
ago. She travels frequently,
taking a shorter or longer
trip almost every month.
She loves mountains and
therefore also Switzerland.
Baltic Outlook
/ 2019 / 127