After a two-year stint at Loganair, Captain Czarena has been flying for Royal Brunei Airlines ever since. Despite the anti-social hours and different time zones, she has never looked back on her 12-year flying career.
My typical day at work involves…
I tend to work odd hours so there is no real routine to my days. But I get up at 5.30am and start with morning prayers and a good cup of coffee. Because I fly long-haul, my mornings can occasionally start in the afternoon. Depending on how I feel, I go the gym or the track because I enjoy running.
The first thing I do when I get to work is check my mailbox, then it’s on to our Operations Control Centre where I find out which aircraft I’m flying. I meet my First Officer and gather all the paperwork required for the flight. We have a good catch-up then we’ll start the pre-flight planning.
This includes checking the weather forecast from our departure point to our destination. Then we decide on how much fuel we want to carry and ensure the aircraft is in tip-top condition. Our pre-flight routine involves preparing the flight deck and also the “walk around” where we check the aircraft exterior. From then on, my First Officer and I operate and manage the flight as safely and efficiently as possible to get our passengers to their destination.
I have been in my job for…
Twelve years since I completed my initial training to become a pilot. The first two years of my career, I was seconded to an airline based in Scotland – Loganair. I’ve been flying the flag with Royal Brunei Airlines ever since.
I became a pilot because…
I fell in love with the idea of flying and when the opportunity presented itself I grabbed it and never looked back.
The most rewarding part of my job is…
That feeling of not having to ‘work’ a day in my life because I absolutely love what I do. Every day is different and it’s the pure beauty of flying that I adore. The occasional compliment from passengers for a good flight also makes my day.
The most challenging part of my job is…
Managing sleep in different time zones. You soon learn to sleep when your body tells you to even if it is in the middle of the day.
My favourite destination is…
Melbourne because I am a big fan of coffee and Melbourne is the city that loves to drink it.
The most common question I am asked is…
“You’re a pilot?” Sometimes the question is filled with disbelief, but most of the time I can sense the admiration.
The worst thing that’s happened at work is…
Forgetting my phone charger and knowing I will be away for nine days. It’s happened a couple of times but because everyone has a smart phone, it’s easy enough to borrow one, although not ideal.
To relax I like to…
Read a good book with a great cup of coffee. Running also helps me relax because it stops me feeling guilty for eating too much.
What one thing would you take to a desert island…
My husband. He may not be an object or a thing, but he’d probably know what to do and therefore be more beneficial to me!