FO Karlo Pigac: "It's such an enormous pleasure to have our captains as mentors"

Just a couple of minutes after we started to prepare this article, Karlo sent a photo from Istanbul Airport. At the time, he was on duty with Capt. Ante Ljubas and they were preparing for their next flight Berlin - Zurich. Although their schedule has them landing in Switzerland at 5pm local time, they are still not done for the day because an hour later - they fly to Salerno.

Karlo came to Jung Sky around the same time as Adam and Stjepan, and from his love of flying and aviation - a new hobby was born...

Karlo, when and how did the idea for cpt.aviation come about?

For a while now, I've been looking for aviation-themed clothing that I could wear on all occasions, but I could never find what I wanted. Most clothing is usually covered with airplane pictures or quotes that, in my opinion, stand out way too much. My intent was to find something more discreet.

After talking with my fellow pilots, I came to the conclusion that all of us like simple designs of aviation clothing, which won't necessarily appeal to the masses, but will be meaningful to us pilots because of some simple, little detail. With cpt.aviation, the main goal is to offer quality and elegance in clothing for all aviation enthusiasts.

Is it difficult or complicated to launch such a project?

Honestly, before I started, I couldn’t have imagined how complicated it would be. It took me almost a year just to choose the right manufacturer and the best material. Now, it’s a bit easier so I dedicate every free moment I have to this project. So far, I’m absolutely enjoying it and see it as a wonderful hobby.

Has the level of interest so far been satisfactory? What's your 'bestseller'?

I'm very satisfied with the level of interest so far. The first "round" of clothing we made sold out quickly, so I decided to try a different design, although the shirts with captain and co-pilot epaulettes remain in our standard offer. We also participated in several live events where we sold shirts with designs tailored specifically for those events, and I have to admit the feedback was excellent. People really like the material and the quality of the clothing.

In your vision, what does cpt.aviation look like in five years?

I hope that one day cpt.aviation could expand and become a serious and recognizable aviation clothing brand, but for now – and with piloting being my first and greatest passion – I’m completely satisfied to keep it at the level of a very fun and interesting hobby.

It’s been almost a year and a half since you started flying for Jung Sky and entered the world of business aviation. What would you say - why is BIZAV a great industry for young pilots?

The nature of flight operations is such that you learn an enormous amount in a very short time and gain experience through a large number of different situations and airports. If you're hardworking and diligent, you can progress quickly. Since I started at Jung Sky, I’ve been recommending to all my colleagues that they grow and develop in business aviation.

You’re having coffee with your best friends who ask you what it’s like to work at Jung Sky. What do you tell them?

All my close friends know that my wish has always been to fly as much as possible. When I tell them about my shift and mention that I’ve visited over 20 different airports and cities, they usually can’t believe it. Plus, there’s the sharing of experiences with our captains—they’re all truly excellent, and it’s also a real pleasure to be in their company after flights. They have plenty of interesting stories, and it’s a joy to listen to them.

Favourite airport to land at?

Varazdin (LDVA), because it’s my ‘home base’.

Favourite city for an overnight stay?

Any in Spain.

Do you perhaps have a life motto?

“Just keep working hard”, that’s what people from my part of Croatia (Medjimurje) always like to say. I would agree and add it’s very important to believe in yourself, and to be patient and unfaltering in your determination to achieve the things that make you happy.

Photo credits:
Emil Škorić, cpt.aviation photos
Juraj  Stipetić, FO Karlo photos