Society News
Name: Alexander Makonnen MRAeS, 37.
Location: Previously Dubai but now in Sussex, UK.
Job title: Commercial Airline Pilot – Senior First Officer.
What inspired you into aviation? I was awestruck from a young age looking up at the stars above us and became fascinated by space, space travel and sci-fi. I remember vividly as a young boy visiting the Science Museum in London and having a thirst for knowledge for all things space related. As I grew older this interest spread into the wider aviation industry and the many sectors represented by aerospace. By the time I finished school I knew I wanted to work in the industry; I just didn’t know what I wanted to do. I went to university and gained a BEng degree in Aerospace Engineering and Astronautics. It was a fascinating course and I have to say I enjoyed every moment of it but, after finishing university, I realised I wanted a more ‘hands-on’ role. As fascinating and exciting as it was being on the cutting edge, designing and building incredible machines and solving complex problems, I wanted to be operating them. From university I went straight to flight school to earn my commercial pilots licence, just in time for the 2008 recession and downturn in aviation. Luckily, as always, aviation bounced back and I landed my first job flying the Dash 8 Q400 and my career took off from there.
What is the best thing about your current role? My most recent role was flying the A380 as a Senior First Officer for an airline based in the UAE. Unfortunately, my time was cut short earlier this year, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the airline’s requirements for A380 pilots. Aside from the sheer enjoyment of flying and the amazing sights, such as flying over the Himalayas, the best thing about this role was working within a culturally diverse airline. I learnt to attune myself to the cultures and communication styles of people from around the world. The benefits of flying ultra long haul meant I got to see many parts of the world for myself and meet many fascinating people.
What made you join the Royal Aeronautical Society? Considering my passion for flying, space and engineering, it seemed like a logical step to join the Royal Aeronautical Society. It is a globally recognised organisation and the world’s only professional body dedicated to the aerospace community. The Society brings together some of the greatest minds in aerospace and works for the advancement of the many areas of the industry. It is an organisation I am honoured to be a part of and I look forward to the opportunities it presents to open a dialogue with some of the thousands of members.
What do you hope to get out of your membership with the RAeS? I look forward to networking with peers across the aerospace industry and learning about the latest developments. Having access to the RAeS publications and sponsored events will be a great asset. I also hope to make use of the Society’s career team and coaching tools. This will put me in the best position for when the airlines begin their post-pandemic recovery.
What three items would you take with you to the space station? Following so many esteemed peers that have come before me, I would have to bring a camera with me so that I can capture all the excitement of my journey and the spectacular views from the station. I would definitely take my tablet with me, filled to the brim with my favourite music and family photos. The third item is a tricky one but I always carried a harmonica in my flight bag for when I was down route. I can’t play it very well at all, so I would feel sorry for my colleagues on board the space station but I do enjoy the challenge and stimulation of learning a new skill wherever I am.
What’s your favourite aircraft? This is a tough one for me, and I am definitely biased. My first flying job was on the Dash 8 Q400 so this aircraft will always have a special place in my heart and I have many fond memories flying the Dash 8 around the British Isles. I went on to fly the A320 and I feel like this aircraft really is the workhorse of the British holiday industry. Like the rest of the Airbus family, it’s a pleasure to operate. This takes me to the A380, a feat of modern engineering, a pleasure to operate and a pleasure to travel on.
Who is your biggest inspiration? The biggest inspiration in my career is undoubtedly, my father. He was born in Ethiopia in the 1950s and a combination of a family tragedy, combined with political unrest in the country, meant that his mother was forced to leave Ethiopia to live in the UK with her three children. Growing up, he faced challenging conditions in London in the 1960s and early 1970s. Despite that, he aspired for a better life, he worked hard and overcame adversity, managing to earn his pilot’s licence to become a flight instructor in his early 1920s. He built up his career from there. Over a span of 45 years he flew a wide range of aircraft and spent many years as a Captain at Monarch Airlines. His story inspires me, as, despite the odds and the challenges he faced, my dad showed me what resilience was, before I even knew what it meant.