Arturs Minkevičs

First Officer on Airbus A220-300

For First Officer Arturs Minkevičs, becoming a pilot wasn’t just a childhood dream. It was a clear mission from the very start. “According to my parents, I’ve wanted to become a pilot since kindergarten,” he recalls. “No matter how many times I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, the answer was always the same.”

As a high school student, Arturs took a big step toward that dream by applying to participate in Shadow Day at airBaltic – a nationwide initiative in Latvia that allows students to step into the shoes of professionals for a day. His first attempt wasn’t successful, but he didn’t give up. He reapplied the next year and was selected. That day would become one of the most defining moments of his life.

Arturs shadowed the pilots of a Dash 8 Q400 flight from Riga to Oslo and back. He doesn’t recall the details of the route, but he vividly remembers the feeling. “It was pure excitement. I couldn’t believe I was there, in the cockpit.” The experience left a lasting impression, especially because of one person: Captain Martin Mitev, the pilot he shadowed. Inspired by his professionalism, Arturs stayed in touch. The two even flew a Cessna together twice, and by then, Arturs says, “I was completely hooked.”

When airBaltic’s Pilot Academy opened, Arturs applied right away. He wasn’t accepted the first time, but just like with Shadow Day, he tried again – and succeeded. He joined the second-ever group of cadets, completed the program, and returned to where it all began: the cockpit of an airBaltic aircraft, this time as a First Officer.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Years later, Arturs found himself on the other side of Shadow Day, welcoming Kristiāns, a determined young aviation enthusiast. “He reminded me of myself - focused, serious, excited about the future,” Arturs says. When Arturs later heard that Kristiāns had been accepted into the Pilot Academy, it was a deeply personal moment. “I could see the next chapter beginning… just like mine did a few years ago.”

The story of Arturs, Martin, and now Kristiāns isn’t just a coincidence – it’s a living example of how inspiration takes flight. One pilot opens the door for another, who then does the same for the next. And with passion, persistence, and support, a simple day of shadowing can lead to something extraordinary.