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He manages time and plays a bass guitar whose sound can be heard at festivals and rock music events. Faithful to his youthful ideals, he draws inspiration from the classics of the genre – Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Saxon have been playing in his soul for many years. Adrian Egorov, Team Manager of Amazon’s Technology Development Center, skillfully divides the day into two; in a balance between work and passion, in which the heavy sound of heavy metal smoothly transitions into Bass’n’Roll.

Very involved in music?

Very much, and that’s probably why I play in two completely different bands. Access Denied is the classic heavy metal sound of the 80’s, and in Hellvoid you can hear “Bass’n’Roll”.

Is bass’n’ roll a new genre?

We came up with this name ourselves, because it best reflects the line-up we play in. Here, in classic rock’n’roll, we use two bass guitars, drums and vocals.

How many years has Access Denied been heard on the music scene?

The band has been around since 2003 and I’ve been playing in it for 7 years.

How did you discover this rather niche genre?

In fact, contemporary heavy metal is more of a musical niche. On the other hand, it should be noted that rock and metal are coming back, more and more young people are reaching for them. I got my fascination with these sounds from home – my dad always listened to rock and heavy metal, so I grew up listening to the sounds of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden and Saxon. That’s how I started my musical adventure when I was 11 years old, when everyone around me was listening to hip hop. Inevitably, I quickly became a class outsider (laughs).

Still with long hair?

I started growing when I was 14 or 15 years old. It was then, with my parents’ permission, that I went to my first concerts. I still remember Iron Maiden from 2003 in Dortmund, Germany.

Did they inspire you musically?

I think it’s stronger than I thought at the time. However, I didn’t start with a bass guitar, but from the beginning I dreamed of an electric guitar. I was fascinated by what my namesake, Adrian Smith, did on stage, and I was named after him!

What does the friendship with the bass guitar look like in practice?

When I work professionally, I have to limit myself to “meetings” lasting two hours a day. At the peak, I was even hitting 6, taking gaming seriously. Now I’m just as hard at it, but I’m trying to find a balance between work and passion.

Autodidact?

To a large extent, yes. In Germany, I graduated from a high school with a music profile, where the number of classes was much larger than in a classical institution. I have an idea, but I emphasize that it was not strictly a music school. I know the notes, I’m also familiar with the theory, but when it comes to playing instruments, I’m a typical self-taught musician.

 

How do you manage to reconcile playing for both teams?

At first glance, it may seem very complicated – but with Access Denied we don’t tour so intensively. We play up to 10 shows a year, rehearsals usually take place before, so I can focus much more on Hellvoid, which requires meetings 3-4 times a week. It can be reconciled, but I admit that sometimes it is difficult, so the key is to organize your time well.

Hellvoid’s concert schedule very tight?

Last year we played 28 concerts, now we are on the right track to beat the result. This summer there are a lot of opportunities, more and more often we are invited to various music events and festivals. On the last first weekend of August we played at a festival in Germany. There are more and more such opportunities.

Was it hard to break through?

In general, it’s difficult. The music market doesn’t allow too many new players, it has to be something innovative or outstanding. It’s easier with Hellvoid because we’re trying to create a new genre of music. Two basses at the same time are rare – of course, there were bands with such a line-up, but they were rather unique on the scene and for some reason they did not stay in the consciousness of the listeners for a long time, treated rather as experimental projects. Nobody played simple rock’n’roll, so it seems that this music is starting to defend itself, and our performance is starting to be noticed by organizers and promoters.

Radio stations too?

It varies. Last year, we were invited by Radio Gdańsk, where you could listen to a conversation with the band members and our musical proposals. Unfortunately, it’s not like big and well-known radio stations are knocking on our door, because regardless of the change in preferences, this music remains heavy and niche.

Ideal for the antenna of Antyradio

Yes, and that’s where we’re trying to get there with small steps. The condition for this to happen is the first full-length album, which we plan to record this year.

How many of them do you have?

One full-length is the third of Access Denied’s band, which came out last year. Hellvoid has already released two so-called “EPs” without me. I hope that we will be able to record the first full-length with the current line-up.

Is there an idea for a career overseas?

It’s not that easy (laughs).

At Amazon, do they know and listen?

There was no denying it! I’m not in the habit of boasting, but my image itself reveals that I have something in common with music, so at the very beginning I was asked if I was creating something, if I was playing in a band. My superiors are very supportive of passion, there is never a problem with holidays and when there are opportunities to tour, I get the green light for a free Friday.

Did your band also focus on heavy sounds?

I’m a Team Manager at Amazon’s Technology Development Center, I lead a team of 37 people, managing working time, not musical taste (laughs). Are they listening? Probably even out of sheer curiosity I happened to look at YouTube, and that means a lot to me.

Where and when to go to your concert?

With Hellvoid we usually perform outside the Tri-City, while Access Denied will be heard on August 16 during the ‘Weekend on rock’ in Puck. On August 17, I would like to invite you to a similar event, this time in Kosakowo.

 

Interviewed by Dagmara Rybicka, Olivia Business Centre Communication Team

 

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During the Summer on the Patio, you suggested what you can do every day to be ECO. Here is a list of your simple solutions. It’s a good idea to break our habits and always have a fabric shopping bag or water container with you. It is also worth remembering to turn off the light when we leave a room where no one is there anymore and to remove chargers from sockets after “reactivating” our devices. At the end of the list you will find simple recipes, e.g. for hand cream or descaling the kettle:)

HERE ARE YOUR SIMPLE IDEAS FOR BEING ECO-FRIENDLY

• I segregate rubbish
• I drink from my own cups, glass cups!
• I always have my own water container with me
• I’m drinking tap water
• I have a composter
• I don’t use plastic straws
• I carry a fabric shopping bag with me
• I ride a bike
• I use public transport
• I use carpooling
• I have a jug to filter the water
• I turn off the lights whenever I go out
• I don’t leave chargers in sockets when I’m not using them
• I’m collecting rainwater
• I only buy water in glass bottles, which I recycle
• I make a shopping list, that way I don’t waste food and I don’t buy too much
• I don’t use plastic takeaway packaging
• I have my own reusable packaging for meals and food
• I don’t print invoices, I do everything electronically
• I collect eggshells and give them to the person who has the hens
• I buy eco-bags for my dog
• I’m planting trees
• I’m picking up trash in the woods
• I stone the kettle with vinegar
• I use baking soda for cleaning
• I sew bags out of curtains for vegetables and other things that I want to store
• I buy cloth diapers for babies, not disposable
• I buy second-hand stores and find clothing gems there
• I make my own window cleaner
• I make cosmetics myself

Make Your Hand Cream

An easy-to-prepare cream based on cocoa butter and coconut oil. Ingredients you’ll need:

• 2 tbsp coconut oil (30 g)
• 1 tbsp cocoa butter (15 g)
• 1 teaspoon almond oil (5 ml)
• 4 drops aromatic lemon oil

Method:

• Pour the coconut oil and cocoa butter into a glass container and heat in a bain-marie maker for a few minutes until the butter melts with the oil.
• Once both ingredients are liquid, add 4 or 5 drops of aromatic lemon oil and 1 teaspoon of almond oil.
• After mixing all the ingredients, pour the liquid into a jar or other tightly closed container.
• Finally, leave it to cool.

Simple descaling of the kettle

All you have to do is pour a glass of vinegar and half a glass of water into the kettle . Then turn on the kettle. After boiling the water, wait about an hour – the vinegar will remove even the very coarse sediment. Afterwards, wash the inside of the kettle and boil the water a few times to get rid of the unpleasant smell.

Intoyour own dishwashing liquid

Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 10 drops of lemon oil to very hot water. Wash the dishes with this solution by rinsing them in the second chamber filled with vinegar (here there is no need to rinse the dishes under running water, the vinegar will disinfect the dishes, shine and evaporate very quickly).

Reusable pouches for vegetables and fruits

It’s a good idea to sew pouches in several sizes and test different materials. For example, a curtain or tulle will be good for light products, while cotton will be good for heavier purchases. A big advantage of “curtain” bags is that they are transparent – you can see what’s inside – and they also allow air to get inside.

Materials Needed

• leftover curtains or cotton fabric,
• sewing machine, threads, pins, scissors,
• cotton cord.

Method

• Cut a long rectangle out of the fabric.
• The two longer sides are sewn with a zigzag stitch or overlock.
• We sew the two longer sides together, but do not sew all the way on one side and leave about 3 cm.
• Roll up the upper part twice so that a tunnel is created through which the string can be pulled. Then we sew at the bottom.
• Thread a string through the tunnel. The best way is to attach a small safety pin to the end of the string, which will make it easier to move it inside. Make loops at the ends of the string.
• Turn the bag inside out (the seams should stay inside). Pouches ready to use! Here with the photo material

 

Additional information can be found m.in:

Eco-mishmash

paulinagorska.com

przystanek-eko.pl

 

All good things come to an end. You have to admit that it’s a really strange thing with holidays! The warm summer months pass unnoticed and before we know it, September arrives, and with it everything that “tigers” don’t like the most.

But, but… We still have a while of time before that happens. And this last week is best spent on the whole. If it’s fun, it’s fun, so after a long and heated discussion, we propose the three best ways to end the 2019 holidays. Firstly, with a pinch of salt, and secondly with a bang!

Shine Like a Diamond

As long and wide as the Tri-City, there is one place where glamour, glitter and glamour in 1000 versions have been, are and will be a necessity. Who has never, even one tiny time, conquered “Monte Lansino” in beautiful clothes and the desire to find the best fun, let him be the first to close this text;) Monciak is a point on the map that you have to visit. Fame precedes the place, and it – as you know – obliges. Maybe take the opportunity to approach the subject in the most relaxed way in the world and go to the city that never sleeps in such a way that the audience passing by really holds their breath? Riding majestically over the pavement from top to bottom, only to land in the finals where everyone has been, regardless of the season and ticket price? Let the crème de la crème of this year’s holiday be the Pier. With the obligatory no filter Molo selfie you can’t shine more!

Courage!

All roads lead to the water. Let’s treat the fact that it’s cold, and sometimes with blue-green algae, as a secondary matter, throwing ourselves into a whirlwind of sports fun, where only madness in its purest form matters. Let’s do something that causes goosebumps, disbelief and laughter – and let’s answer the question “why me” – after all, only the sky is the limit.

Long live the adrenaline, so ditching the sunscreen and blanket on the shore, let’s briskly set off into the waves shouting “ahoy adventure”! To warm up, a jet ski in a single or with a second half, then skis and an extreme ride on a tire behind the motorboat. Sounds appealing? Let’s go further – a quick banana, a wakeboard with small obstacles, a kite for relaxation, and finally, when the sun starts to go down, the flyboard. Don’t worry, as the instructors point out, everyone’s knees soften first, but after all, holidays are for doing something that is completely unimaginable. If there’s a lot to choose from, we’ve got it!

A design perspective

Such two or more days require rest immediately after. The best and, as you can see, proven is the domestic national sport, i.e. beach windsurfing in its purest form. What do we need to make the dream come true? A visit to the supermarket and deciding which screen will meet your innermost expectations. As experienced screenbreakers advise, the most important thing is that the design is consistent with what is in our soul. Apparently, there is nothing worse than a checkered or striped ordeal, since we love butterflies or flowers. Another piece of the beach puzzle is size – here we have to answer for ourselves what perspective and range will make us bask in the sun without disturbances, inhaling iodine for the next difficult and cold months. Remember, when leaving the cash register with a screen under your arm, the most important thing is the time you set up on the beach. This is where the old hands come to the rescue, advising that on weekends you should reserve a patch of beach sand when the first hen crows. During the week you can sleep in – around 8:00 a.m. there is still a chance that you will see the sea shore from our fortress without binoculars. Such are the internal rules and regulations;)

One week and three ways – in our opinion, both creative and encouraging! What’s important is that they all connect, flexibly permeate and at the start they cause that even if these last 7 holiday days don’t turn out to be a breakthrough, they will still go down in history, which we will remember with laughter in a year’s time.

 

Dagmara Rybicka, Communication Department, Olivia Business Centre

It has certainly become an uncrowned symbol of summer. For three holiday weeks, it transports visitors into the world of history, closely guarded secrets and trunks full of all sorts of treasures. In the nooks and crannies of the paved streets, nothing is obvious, as we find out by visiting numerous and colorful stalls with amber, crafts, art and traditional dishes. The phenomenon of St. Dominic’s Fair, which begins on 27 July, is discussed by Zenon Gołaszewski, historian, translator, publicist, author of popular science books and historical novels.

It attracts both tourists and Gdańsk residents – what is the magic of the Fair?

Magic, in its definition, is, among other things, “an extraordinary power of influence, exerting influence”. And this is true in the case of the Dominican Fair. Quite simply, it is enough to be there at least once, to feel the atmosphere, to “breathe in the history” contained in the exhibited antiques, objects from the past, and all against the background of Gdańsk’s monuments, to succumb to this charm and look forward to it every year. Personally, as a historian and writer, and a native of Gdańsk since birth, I have long been subject to the mood that accompanies this Fair.

What is the genesis of this event?

The genesis of this event is very distant in time, it concerns the Middle Ages, specifically the year 1260, when Pope Alexander IV granted the local Dominicans the privilege of indulgence along with the date of its beginning – August 5, the day of the feast of the founder of their order – St. Dominic.

Is there a similar holiday in Poland that is so popular?

Definitely not, as evidenced by the number of visitors to the Fair, which has been in the millions for years!

Why is this tradition so important for the region?

For centuries, fairs have been a magnet attracting both traders and buyers, and they have often determined the prosperity of the towns that organized them. It is not surprising that the city authorities have tried (many times unsuccessfully) to be able to organize them. These, time-honored by centuries, such as the Dominican Fair, still play the same role, attract the attention of many, and thus promote the region.

In your opinion, how much has the model of cultivating the Fair changed?

It depends on what period it should be compared to. It is certainly more secular than in the Middle Ages, and the word “indulgence” is used less frequently in the sense of the forgiveness of sins. Quite simply, it is a great event inscribed in the Gdańsk calendar, where everyone can find something for themselves.

Also a crimson rooster!

Well, this one is the symbol of all the Dominican Fairs in the world. The crimson rooster was both an ancient attribute of the patron saint of merchants and trade – Hermes, but because the crowing of the rooster heralded the arrival of day and light, it also fit well into Christian symbolism.

Is the Gdańsk tradition understandable to a foreigner?

Certainly, the event is an additional attraction if they happen to be visiting Gdańsk at that time as tourists. For Europeans, the concept of fairs is not alien, while for people from other cultural circles it probably has a taste of exoticism and it will probably allow them to remember their stay in Gdańsk and our region even more.

Is it possible to say that the Dominican Fair is an event known in Europe and in the world?

Certainly more and more famous in Europe. Is it in the world? We will probably have to wait a little longer for that, but everything is going in the direction of making it happen. I know about foreigners – hobbyists, and I even know some personally, who come to the Dominican Fair to enrich their collections.

Interviewed by Dagmara Rybicka

Communication Department of Olivia Business Centre

If you want to share what is unique, we invite you to the 32nd floor of Olivia Top Star. Unforgettable impressions, stunning view and multi-coloured scenery of the Tri-City create a completely new perspective for leisure, business meetings and time with loved ones.

Wishing to make what is unique happen to you, we have prepared a proposal dedicated to the Residents of Olivia Business Centre – When buying a normal ticket, the second one is priced at 0 PLN. Remember to additionally purchase a special ticket for 0 PLN.

In order to take advantage of the offer, it is necessary to purchase both tickets for the same time and enter one Resident, who will have an Olivia Business Centre access card and an identity card. The promotion will last until August 10 and applies to tickets purchased online and at the box office.

• Detailed information about Olivia Star Top:
  
  
  http://bit.ly/Olivia_Star_Taras_Widokowy
  
  
  
• Telephone number to the terrace reception 534 034 000.

See you at 130 meters Olivia Star.

 

–/–

 

We are delighted to invite you to the 32nd floor of Olivia Top Star. Unforgettable impressions, a stunning view and the colorful scenery of the Tri-City create a completely new perspective for leisure, business meetings and time with your loved ones.

We want to share this unique experience with you, so we have prepared a proposal dedicated to the Residents of Olivia Business Centre – buy a regular ticket and get the second absolutely free. Remember to additionally purchase a special ticket for PLN 0 .

Both tickets must be bought for the same entrance time and one must be for a Resident, who will show their OBC access card and identity card. This special Resident’s offer is starting today and it will last until 10 of August – and includes tickets bought online and at the ticket office.

• Detailed information about Olivia Star Top can be found at
  
  
  http://bit.ly/Olivia_Star_Observation_Deck
  
  
  
• The number for the reception is
  534 034 000.
  

See you at the Top of Olivia Star!

Hey ho, hey ho for blueberries! Admittedly, no one seems to have met Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, but the delicious ice cream and sensational blueberry cakes attracted a strong team to the patio, as they call them! The second episode of the hottest Summer on the Patio is behind us. You will find out what the third one will be on August 8th. Whoever has been there, knows that the best summer attractions only in Olivia Business Centre:)

 

 

A fantastic performance in the rounds leading up to the final led the OBC crew to a well-deserved victory. The sailors trained by Mateusz Kusznierewicz sailed this season, as if in defiance of the winds, sea waves and the class of their opponents.

– We have worked very diligently for this success. The beginnings were difficult because Despite being led by the best coaches in the world, we finished the first season in last place. In the second one, we didn’t even make it to the gold final, although we did triumph in the silver one – for slightly weaker crews. It wasn’t until the following year that we were able to compete with other efficient crews, at the amateur level, of course – says Maciej Kotarski, Director of the Commercialization Department at Olivia Business Centre.

The final regatta turned out to be a great challenge for the participants. Strong and strong winds forced the organizers to give the order to reef the sails, and yet all the yachts sailed surprisingly evenly.

– Of the first five races, each was won by a different crew. We haven’t seen anything like this in the Business League before, usually one or two of the best crews dominate, the rest try to keep up with them. The OBC team did well, but not brilliantly – in the first three races we were always in second place. It wasn’t until the fourth that we finished first, but in the fifth we put up a tangled Gennaker twice and in the blink of an eye the others overtook us, so we ended up third. It was only in the sixth race that we managed to repeat the success and thus won the entire round, the entire Gold Final, as well as the entire Business Sailing League 2019 – says Kotarski happily.

Olivia Business Centre brings people together – many employees of companies residing in the Business Centre willingly get involved in the sports project led by Mateusz Kusznierewicz. This season, the Olivia Business Centre team is made up of colleagues from Bayer Business Services, EPAM Systems, Omida Group, PwC, thyssenkrupp, Alter Investment, for whom the opportunity to race on a regatta yacht is invariably great fun.

– This is my greatest sailing success, although I have been sailing for over 40 years, but mainly as a tourist. When three years ago, thanks to Olivia, I started to pursue my career in the Business League, it turned out that sport sailing has very little in common with tourist sailing, in fact, only the terminology is common. I had to learn everything from scratch – steering on upwind courses, making turns, regatta tactics, priority rules, which are very complicated in regattas – recalls Maciej Kotarski.

The golden team of the Business League finished the season with Borys Malinowski / PwC Poland; Bartłomiej Glinka/ Omida Group; Mikołaj Staniul – tactics and Maciej Kotarski / OBC – helmsman. The team consisted of Michał Krzepkowski from EPAM Poland, Remigiusz Wojciechowski from Bayer Service Center Gdańsk and Damian Tomasik from Alter Investment. The coach of the team is Mateusz Kusznierewicz.

Distinguished guests from 34 countries, representing all continents and one common goal – to teach even more effectively, making that regardless of latitude, a law graduate begins his practice with a sense of service to justice. The challenge: skilful interpretation of regulations in the spirit of the new paradigm, which is internationalization and globalization.

For the first time in international history, the World Convention of Law Deans and the conference of the International Association of Law Schools were held in Poland. Thus, the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk joined the ranks of such universities and cities as Doha, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Milan, Madrid, Singapore, Canberra and Montreal. Similarly, Olivia Business Centre, which is a partner of the event, because it is the 32nd floor of the prestigious Olivia TOP Star that has become a unique place to exchange views on the most current topics in the field of law.

– I believe that the view stretching from the windows of the tallest building in Pomerania Olivia Star will remain in your memory for a long time, becoming a kind of symbol of Polish openness, hospitality and the conviction that “the lamp is the command, and the light is the law” – assured the representatives of the bar Marta Kłos, Head of Sales & Marketing Olivia TOP Star at Olivia Business Centre.

As the participants of the Forum emphasized, the conclusions of the meeting open up new opportunities, which in practice means that the education system should not be limited only to national regulations.

“The event was held at an optimal time, as legal education in Poland is in a very good place. The priority is the internationalization of education, because today’s legal science has a new paradigm, which is called internationalization and globalization. We cannot practice law by knowing only the national law, so we try to teach students a systemic and functional approach. We want meetings like these to also result in new opportunities for students. International exchange will give them a chance to learn about other legal systems and see the law in a different way. emphasized Anna Jurkowska-Zeidler, Vice-Dean for Student and Science UG.

Both the organizers and the participants agreed that there should be one direction of teaching.

– Let’s think for a moment about the legal world that surrounds us. There are more and more regulations, courts, procedures and an ordinary person simply feels lost in this thicket. The question is whether he will meet a lawyer who will guide him through these complexities, or perhaps one who will die with him. That is why a border lawyer is a great challenge not only for the skillful reading of regulations. His task is to see that behind the regulations there is a man of flesh and blood, who comes to a lawyer so that he can interpret the provision in such a way that the law goes beyond the textual sphere and so that it can be said that the provision serves justice – Professor Tomasz Koncewicz , Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Global Deans Forum 2019, is sure.

The need to change the paradigm of teaching law is the best prognosis for dynamically developing companies, which are more and more willing to open international branches in Gdańsk.

“The Congress proved beyond any doubt that a lawyer is not only a judge, a prosecutor and an advocate. Nowadays, lawyers provide services to companies in various ways, as do law graduates who engage in business activities in many fields. The students’ knowledge of what is happening in Olivia Business Centre is enormous, they are eager to report on the events taking place in Olivia, they go here for internships in the neighbourhood, they look for a job here, so it happens in a natural way – sums up Professor Wojciech Zalewski, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Gdańsk.

Deans and representatives of law faculties from over a hundred of the best universities, as well as eminent lawyers holding the highest offices in their countries, visited the Tri-City for five days. All thanks to the World Forum of Law Deans and the conference of the International Association of Law Schools organized by the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk, in partnership with the local governments of Gdynia, Gdańsk and Sopot. Both events were held in Poland for the first time. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Katarzyna Gruszecka-Spychała, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia. The congress was a unique opportunity for a serious debate and exchange of views on the most current topics in the field of law.

– We compared education systems, learning from each other and observing systems that could be used in Poland and in Europe. During these days, we focused on how to teach law, how to use the solutions proposed by e-technologies to make graduates international lawyers. This exchange of experience influences how we shape the study programs at our faculties – explains Professor Wojciech Zalewski, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration.

He could talk endlessly about airplanes. Fascinated by technology and technique, he breaks the third dimension, remembering that where physics is used to the maximum, there is room for a great human dream. The moment of getting off the ground has something mystical about it. It combines awareness of the power of science with a sense of romantic freedom – admits Wojciech Hildebrandt, Senior Software Developer at Aspire Systems Poland.

Little Wojtek wanted to become a pilot?

Not quite. Little Wojtek wasn’t sure what he wanted to be (laughs). I vaguely remember a trip with my parents to an aviation picnic – I had to deal with the Polish icon of aviation, Wilga. However, it did not become a breakthrough, I fell in love with aviation only in 2012.

What happened that you fell completely into the sky?

I’ve always been fascinated by the technique and technology of transport. They were interested in the mechanisms that make it possible and the logistical side of such undertakings. It seems to me that this is what has found its focus in aviation, which is the second most advanced form of transport after space flight.

What is the phenomenon of flying?

I look at it as a breakthrough of the third dimension, which historically required a lot of time, effort and ingenuity. I don’t think we’re aware of the use of physics to the maximum – in aviation, this understanding is the basis by which we know what is going on. There’s a saying that a pilot can’t let a plane take him where he wasn’t thinking 5 minutes before.

Have you also tried to construct equipment?

Only imitatively and on a small scale, in the form of reduction models. I trained at the Aero Club in Pruszcz Gdański, where the trainees have at their disposal properly prepared planes, to which the technical service is dedicated. The role of the pilot before the flight is to check whether all the equipment is working properly, whether we have oil and fuel – and if necessary, refill them.

The number of controls isn’t scary?

Training planes are quite simple, so the devices don’t make you dizzy. It’s a completely different perspective than the airliners we fly on vacation or to work. Apart from the visual side, they differ in the level of sophistication of individual mechanisms.

Is the responsibility at the helm also different?

In airliners, a two-man crew sits in the cockpit. Pilots, as with small machines, are responsible for checking that everything is correct. They have a number of established procedures that are the most important element of security. In the Aero Club it is easier, because the plane is not complicated, and many of the most important rules are instilled in the pilots from the very beginning.

What does it feel like to take to the air?

That’s the notorious “wow”! The impression will not be overshadowed even by the longest “dry” preparation. Even before I started the training, I was learning how it works. I went through an intensive theoretical course that lasted over two months, which allowed me to get used to the idea that I would be close to the clouds. I connect the first detachment from the ground with the rudder in my hands with this third dimension, in which we begin to move. Suddenly, we get a sense of the surrounding technology that makes all of this possible, and on the other hand, we have room for romantic freedom!

The one famous in the skies?

A little bit. There is a compromise between freedom and what you have to do on the plane for safety and traffic reasons. A pilot who flies a small tourist plane feels that he has far fewer restrictions than in a scheduled “bus” at an altitude of 10 kilometers.

Have you had the opportunity to pilot a cruise aircraft?

Only on the simulator, because you have to go through a very long training journey to sit in a real cockpit.

How many hours did you have to fly for the instructor to say: “Wojtek, now you”?

In fact, he steers the plane from the very first hour of training. We get the reins, and the instructor next to us assists. According to the program, the first solo flights take place after 10 hours of the course – which is the result of top-down assumptions about how much time you have to fly with an instructor and how much time you have to fly on your own.

Were you afraid before your first solo flight?

Rather, I was filled with emotions about whether everything would go as it should. I didn’t feel any fear that something was going to happen, because the hours I flew with my instructor convinced me that I had done my homework properly. In a small plane, it is much easier to control the situation, because everything happens slowly and there is time to react adequately to the circumstances.

Completely glitch-free?

Emergencies happen. Let’s not forget that the role of the course is to teach the pilot to anticipate and not to allow them to happen.

So there is no place for the Uhlans’ fantasy?

None, although there are surges of emotion.

Do you have nerves of steel?

I can’t allow myself to get too emotional, especially in unforeseen situations. In this case, it is only after the flight that it is worth considering why something went differently than it should. Then it’s time for emotions. At the helm, decisions have to be made coolly. Are nerves of steel? Not even so much – rather, I have the ability to deal with stress.

Has flying become an antidote to stress?

A little bit. But I’m also still wondering how much to continue on the road to more licenses, which would end up being professional.

How difficult is this road?

At the moment, I am the holder of a tourist license, which is the first level in piloting. The training programs assume that up to 150 hours of flight time I can now “drive” in the sky. After that, it would be a good idea to take the course and exam for a commercial license that allows you to fly for a living. The rules strictly state that now, being a tourist pilot, I cannot take a passenger as an air taxi.

Non-commercial friends, family can you?

Yes, I can fly with someone. With a commercial license, I could do some aviation jobs. At the end there is a liner license – and these are the pilots we meet when flying on a business trip or on vacation.

Is it possible to reconcile climbing these levels with work?

This is one of the reasons why I do not throw myself into the deep end of the next levels of initiation. But I have friends who are so determined that they managed to do it and, while working professionally, at the same time brought the subject to the line license.

What is the cost of the license?

If you want to get a line license, you need about 200 thousand zlotys. Pilots say the trick is to fly for as short a time as possible (laughs). It’s worth getting a job as a co-pilot and that’s when the airlines start paying. Only after 1,500 hours can you become a captain, but hardly anyone is able to fly this number for themselves.

Were there moments when the heart stopped?

Fortunately, they were only simulated. A type of derivation of an aircraft from an unfavorable configuration.

What else?

A flight without visibility, which is designed to teach the pilot that if something like this happens to him, he knows how to escape back to good conditions. Real flying without sight is a separate category that is not included in this basic license. You can sometimes see in movies and photos that the pilot flies with a blindfold over his eyes – it’s learning how to turn around safely if you fell into the clouds and can’t see anything.

Is that how you can?

Yes – everything outside the cockpit is covered. Instruments such as the artificial horizon and compasses can still be seen.

Are you the most critical passenger when flying on holiday?

Definitely not. Skills are easiest to judge by the way you land. However, it seems to me that pilots are very tolerant – each of us knows what it is all about. What seems like a beautiful smooth landing to passengers from the perspective of someone with a license may turn out to be not quite the right solution, because the plane has to touch down in the right way. I don’t have enough experience to fully assess the situations that are happening in this large aviation, so I try not to give firm opinions.

What happens in the cockpit then?

Autopilot is a big help, but let’s remember that it’s not like pilots are only there to look at devices. The systems are so complex that it takes two people who are able to coordinate and supervise the equipment. The pilot’s craftsmanship is best seen at take-off and landing – these two moments are the least automated.

At Aspire Systems Poland, do they look at the sky when a plane flies?

I am happy to talk about my passion and share my knowledge at work. There is even a place for it, because we are implementing a project for a client from the aviation industry. I like to talk about the functioning of the facilities, of course at the level at which I fly. I am glad that the group of listeners is growing and I believe that I will ignite someone to start the course. There is even a colleague who has already been convinced!

 

Interviewed by Dagmara Rybicka, Olivia Business Centre