ACES
Friday 20/02/2026
MORNING SESSION: PILOT RECRUITMENT & WORKFORCE EVOLUTION
10:30-10:40
Welcome Remarks
10:40-11:00
«Pilot Recruitment Trends 2026»
Dean O’Sullivan, Associate Director of AeroProfessional
11:00-11:20
«You’ve Got the Job, What’s Next? Building a Sustainable Pilot Career in a Global Market»
Aurore Bothorel, International Account Manager at Resource Group
11:20-11:40
«Landing the Job: A Practical Guide to Pilot Recruitment, Selection and Avoiding Common Pitfalls»
Francis Farrell, Director of Nobox HR Outsourcing Solutions
11:40-12:00
«Navigating the Future of Commercial Aviation: How Market Evolution Is Redefining and Impacting the Pilot’s Role»
Bruna Mitraud, International Development Manager at SAAM Verspieren Group, and Eric Burgy, Corporate Jet Captain and famous French youtuber "Rico Pilot"
MIDDAY SESSION: AIRLINE / RECRUITER PRESENTATIONS #1
13:30-13:50
«Ryanair - a World of Endless Career Opportunities»
Mark Duffy, Director of Talent at Ryanair
13:50-14:10
«Aviation Sustainability Career Pathways — ERAU MSc Programme»
Dr. Eva Maleviti, Assistant Professor, Embry-Riddle
14:10-14:30
«Together — to New Heights!»
Yiğid Acar, HR Business Partner & Talent Acquisition Senior Manager at Sunexpress
14:30-14:50
«From One Base to Nine Countries — Career at Europe’s Largest Emergency Flight Organisation»
Capt. Alex Stobo, Group Flight Operations and Standards Director at Avincis
14:50-15:10
«Fly the Biggest and the Best - Emirates Airline»
Boyu Hu, Recruitment Partner, and David Vandekerhove, Boeing 777 Captain, Emirates Airline
AFTERNOON SESSION: AIRLINE / RECRUITER PRESENTATIONS #2
15:40-16:00
«Pilot Opportunities at Etihad Airways»
Ethan Newman, Pilot Recruitment Manager at Etihad Airways
16:00-16:20
«From People to Performance»
Thomas Forster, Head of Fleet A320 at Lufthansa City Airlines
16:20-16:40
«Cargolux - Taking You Further»
Fabian Mattern, B747 Captain, TRI, LTC, Selection Board Member and Recruitment Coordinator at Cargolux Airlines
16:40-17:00
«Equal Opportunities. Unlimited Growth with Air Astana»
Madina Berikkyzy, Senior Recruiter at Air Astana
17:00-17:20
«When Innovation Shapes Performance And Safety»
Nicolas de Lassus, Head of Sales – Europe, and Alisa Galais, Sales Europe, Elixir Aircraft, Capt. Hugues Carpentier, Head of Training at Egnatia Aviation
Saturday 21/02/2026
MORNING SESSION: BEYOND FLYING — THE LEADERSHIP PILOT
10:30-10:50
«Beyond Flying: Becoming the Safety Leader in the Sky»
Capt. Paul Reuter, Vice-President, European Cockpit Association
10:50-11:10
«Mental Endurance, Stress Recovery & Cognitive Stability in the Long Run»
Daiana Dajulescu, A320 First Officer, Public Speaker and Pilot Expo Ambassador
11:10-11:30
«Competencies That Matter in Business Aviation: Preparing for the Life, Assessments and Interview Boards»
Capt. Laszlo Rozgonyi, Business Jet Line Training Captain, Airbus A320 TRI, Head of CTK LAB
11:30-11:50
«From Assessment to Line Operations: Building the Leaders»
Fabian Mattern, B747 Captain, TRI, LTC, Selection Board Member and Recruitment Coordinator at Cargolux Airlines
MIDDAY SESSION: TRUST IN TRANSITION
13:30-14:30
Panel discussion «The Independent Career Pilot»
The Independent Career Pilot panel explores how professional pilots can build parallel income streams, expand their roles beyond traditional airline employment, and improve work–life balance while staying active in aviation. The panel also looks ahead to long-term career planning, discussing opportunities to remain engaged in the industry after retirement through mentoring, consulting, entrepreneurship, and other aviation pathways.
AFTERNOON SESSION: AIRLINE PRESENTATIONS #3
15:00-15:20
«Join the Flight — Discover Life as a Wizz Air Pilot»
Capt. Evy Van Gansen & Capt. Nikki Janssen, Wizz Air
15:20-15:40
«The Modern Pilot: One Cockpit, Two Worlds»
Sandra Diaso, Head of Human Resources, KlasJet
15:40-16:00
«Home is Wherever We Land: Pilots Who Live Worldwide»
Carlota Tutor Vizcaino, First Officer, and Luis Galindo Torres, First Officer, Avion Express
FUTURE PILOTS
Friday 20/02/2026
MORNING SESSION: THE FUTURE OF PILOTING & THE MARKET AHEAD
10:30-10:40
Welcome Remarks
10:40-11:10
«Pilot Demand vs. Training Capacity»
George Triantafyllidis, Chief Commercial Officer of Egnatia Aviation
11:10-11:40
«Inside a Modern Flight Academy: What Training Really Looks Like in 2026»
Kasper Valgren, Vice President of Revenue at FlightLogger
11:40-12:00
«What Are the Challenges and Opportunities of Electric Flight Training for the Next Generation?»
Axel Doffey, Business Development and Sales Manager Europe at H55
MIDDAY SESSION: TRAINING STRATEGY, REALITY & CAREER DECISIONS
13:00-13:20
«From Zero to Hero – a Guide to Succesful Pilot Training»
Capt. Kay Wachtelborn, CEO of SKY4u Aviation Services
13:20-13:40
«A Survivor’s Guide to Your Flight School Selections»
Pieter Brantegem, B747 pilot and CEO of Skywings
13:40-14:00
«Tips From an Active Pilot on How to Choose Your Employer»
Capt. Lars Frontini, Chair of the European Cockpit Association Industrial Working Group
14:00-14:20
«Safeguarding Health in the Air and at Work: The Attentia Aviation Medical Approach»
Dr. Brigitte De Geyter, Head of AeMc, and Dr. Farah Maamer, Team Leader, Attentia Aviation Medical
AFTERNOON SESSION: FLIGHT SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS #1
15:10-15:30
«Flying on Merit: Transforming Pilot Training Through Inclusive Access»
Andy McFarlane, CEO and Founder of Leading Edge Aviation
15:30-15:50
«Careers in Aviation: Opportunities at KlasJet»
Sandra Diaso, Head of Human Resources, KlasJet
15:50-16:10
«Grow with Egnatia Aviation»
Capt. Hugues Carpentier, Head of Training at Egnatia Aviation
16:10-16:30
«Ryanair Future Flyer Academy at Bartolini Air»
Nuno Nogueira, Deputy Head of Training, Bartolini Air
16:30-16:50
«How to Become a Pilot – Wizz Air Pilot Academy»
Nikki Janssen, Captain at Wizz Air
16:50-17:10
«From Cadet to Captain – Your Premium Flight Training With AAA Quality»
Dr. Oliver Karall, CEO & Capt. Thomas Schindler, Head of Training, Austrian Aviation Academy
17:10-17:30
«5 Reasons Why Avion Express is the Smart Start»
Agne Dilyte-Sund, Crew People & Culture Recruitment Specialist at Avion Express
17:30-17:50
«Becoming a Pilot Within Europe's Largest Airline Group»
Daniel Eisen, Sales Manager at European Flight Academy
Saturday 21/02/2026
MORNING SESSION: PURPOSE, DRIVE & PERSONAL JOURNEYS
10:30-10:50
«From Desk Job to A320/B737: Reinventing a Career»
Capt. Jakub Benke, Shareholder of Bartolini Air
10:50-11:10
«From Passenger to Cargo Pilot»
Joe Diebolder, B747 pilot and famous youtuber "Captain Joe"
11:10-12:00
Panel Discussion «From Dream to Cockpit – Real Aviation Journeys, Real Challenges»
Panel members: Daiana Dajulescu, A320 FO (@dajulescudaiana), Ana-Maria Balauntescu, Head of Training & Flight Instructor at Cirrus Aircraft Romania (@pilot_anamaria), Adam Tahiri, student pilot (@_flywithadam) and Zacharias Besinis, student pilot (@harrybesinis)
MIDDAY SESSION: FLIGHT SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS #2
13:00-13:20
«Ryanair Future Flyer Academy – Gateway to Your Pilot Career»
Angelo Currao – Pilot Recruitment Manager of Ryanair
13:20-13:40
«Sailplanes in Integrated Programmes»
Christopher Normandale, Sales Manager at Quality Fly Aviation Academy
13:40-14:00
«Why Airlines Put Their Trust in Us»
Miroslav Srnec, B777 Captain, B737 TRI/TRE, and Head of Training at F Air, Krista Vandermeulen, CEO at WECAIR
14:00-14:20
«How to Become a Pilot — Wizz Air Pilot Academy»
Capt. Nikki Janssen, TRI A320/A321 & Pilot Recruitment Assessor at Wizz Air
14:20-14:40
«From Training to the Flight Deck - Professional Pilot Pathways in Rome»
Proff. Lorenzo Mezzadri, Accountable Manager and Founder of Urbe Aero Flight Academy
14:40-15:00
«Brussels Airlines Cadet Program with Skywings»
Pieter Brantegem, B747 Pilot and CEO of Skywings, Vincent Verbiest, MPL Coordinator, and Jeremy Rooms, A330 Captain and Pilot Selection Manager at Brussels Airline
15:00-15:20
«Hillsboro Aero Academy – Flight Training in the US»
Axel Schmitz, Director of Business Development at Hillsboro Aero Academy
15:20-15:40
«Pilot the Future»
Stephanie Dalton, Enrolment Specialist at Emirates Flight Training Academy
