From Intern to First Officer: A Journey of Dreams and Persistence

We are always talking about the meaning of our jobs and the human search for meaning in general. Today, I would like to share a real and personal story that made me feel valuable and truly meaningful in my current role.

The First Encounter

Let’s make a flashback and go back to February 2019. I was attending the Istanbul Technical University Career Summit (one of the biggest career events in Türkiye). A young woman approached our booth, and we started chatting. She was studying Meteorological Engineering and wanted to do her internship at an airline, specifically in the Operational Control Center.

After she left, Seçil (one of our Engineering Managers and an ITU graduate) and I looked at each other and talked about her. She was very clear about her goals. She knew SunExpress, understood how she could contribute to an airline, and possessed almost perfect communication skills. We noted her name to follow up on her potential application.

Building a Path

In the summer of 2019, after a successful process, Burcu joined SunExpress as an intern in our Operational Control Center. She not only gained experience there but also built a strong internal network thanks to her curiosity. That was also the first year we started to train our own pilots, and Burcu confidently stated that she would join the program right after graduation.

Then the pandemic arrived, and there was a huge pause in all of our lives. Still, Burcu found a way to stay in touch. In 2023, she applied for our Pilot Training Program and, after achieving a successful score in a highly demanding selection process, she became a SunExpress employee (one of our cadet pilots). After two years of intensive training, she successfully completed the program and joined our cockpit team as a First Officer less than a year ago.

Full Circle: Inspiring the Next Generation

This year, I asked our cockpit management if Burcu could join me at the ITU Career Fair 2026 to inspire young students who dream of becoming future pilots. Thanks to their support, we were first in Ankara at Hacettepe University, and then at ITU, meeting many future "Burcus" who shared their dreams with us.

I want to thank Burcu, not only for supporting me during these demanding career events, but for reminding me that I have a meaningful role in connecting people with dreams to a company with a strong desire for sustainable growth.

Captain Burcu, thank you for being a part of this journey. Safe flights!