Facebook link of Pharmaflight
Facebook link of Pharmaflight

Author: UrEsParancsolo

  • Interview with Sabarees Muthuveerannan, flight instructor of Pharmaflight Aviation Academy

    Interview with Sabarees Muthuveerannan, flight instructor of Pharmaflight Aviation Academy

    Passion, dedication and hard work

    Over the past few years, more than 200 pilot students from 40 countries around the world have graduated from the Pharmaflight Aviation Academy pilot training centre, having earned their EASA CPL and Airbus A320 type ratings. Upon completing their training, the top-performing students were given the opportunity to remain with the academy and continue working as flight instructors. Sabarees Muthuveerannan came to Debrecen from India and is among those who, following the successful completion of the EASA CPL course, remained at Pharmaflight Aviation Academy as an instructor pilot. After more than six years, he has now moved on, having been given the opportunity to become an airline pilot, in line with his original plan.

    – Why did you want to become a professional pilot?

    – It was my dream from a very young age. Although I knew very little about the aviation industry in the beginning, the more I learned about it over time, the more passionate I became. Today, what attracts me most to this profession is the immense responsibility it carries. There is an incredible feeling of pride and satisfaction in knowing that you are entrusted with the safe operation of such a sophisticated aircraft and the lives of everyone on board. 

    – Did you have any aviation-related background before you decided to apply to the professional pilot program?

    – No, I did not have any aviation-related background before joining the professional pilot program. The only exposure I had was attending a one-day aeromodelling workshop, where we built an RC (Radio Controlled) aircraft as part of a team. Apart from that, I had no prior experience in aviation. 

    – How did you find Debrecen and Pharmaflight Aviation Academy?

    – I found Debrecen to be a very safe, peaceful, and student-friendly city with fewer distractions, making it an ideal place to focus on flight training. It has all the necessary facilities and amenities for a comfortable student life. Being home to more than 5,000 international students from over 100 countries, it also offers a diverse and welcoming environment. Pharmaflight Aviation Academy has excellent infrastructure, comfortable classrooms, and well-maintained simulators and aircraft, providing a highly professional learning environment. 

    – Which theoretical subject was your favourite one?

    – I enjoy solving problems, so my favourite theoretical subjects were General Navigation, Mass and Balance, and Flight Planning. I found these subjects particularly interesting because they required logical thinking and practical application, which made them both challenging and rewarding 

    – How did you manage the 13 ATP theoretical subjects and which was the most easier and difficult subject?

    – Since I was already 22 years old when I started the course, I was able to manage my time and studies in a disciplined manner. However, completing all 13 ATPL theoretical subjects still required complete dedication and consistent effort. I devoted most of my time each day to studying and preparing for the exams. I also sought advice from senior students on how to approach the subjects and the examinations, which proved to be very helpful. Personally, I found Operational Procedures to be the most difficult subject because it involved more memorization than conceptual understanding.

    – Which part of the flight training did you like most?

    – I liked the multi-engine, Instrument Rating, and A320 type rating parts the most because they were challenging and demanded more from me. I took them as a challenge and tried my best to perform well. 

    – Which simulator and sim session did you like most?

    – I really loved flying in the Airbus A320 full flight simulator. The feeling of touching the controls and switches was very nice. Whenever I entered the simulator, it was a great feeling. 

    – How did you like the atmosphere in Debrecen and in the academy?

    – I really enjoyed my time in Debrecen and at the academy. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and easily approachable, creating a welcoming and supportive environment. I especially appreciated the open culture, where there was very little authority gradient, making communication easy and encouraging collaboration. Overall, it was a very positive and conducive environment for both work and personal growth. 

    – Why did you choose to become an instructor pilot and stay in Debrecen after your graduation?

    – I always wanted to become an airline pilot, but I ended up becoming an instructor due to the job market. I also chose this so that I could gain more experience before joining the airlines. If I have to comment now, I really like this profession, and it gives me a sense of achievement and satisfaction whenever I see my students progress during their flight training. 

    – As an instructor pilot, what did you learn during your service?

    – It helped me improve my understanding of flying because I got to spend more time observing students fly. It also helped me improve my situational awareness and workload management. Since I had the opportunity to instruct people from more than 20 countries across different age groups, I learned just as much as I taught. It helped me stay grounded and see things from different perspectives. 

    – What are your advises to the young girls and boys who want to become a professional pilot?

    – Think carefully before choosing this profession. Passion, dedication, and hard work are essential, or you won’t survive in this field. It is going to be a challenging journey, but trust me, it is all worth it in the end. 

    – What helps most to the students to focus the training, especially the theoretical part and the flying lessons?

    – First of all, understand the workload and plan your time accordingly. This course is not just something you study – it becomes a way of life. It requires your full commitment and should be your top priority. You need to be prepared to organize everything else around your training. I would also encourage students to develop non-technical skills in their daily lives, such as time management, workload management, discipline, communication, and decision-making. These skills are just as important as technical knowledge and will help you throughout your training and your career. 

    – How many years did you stay in Hungary and Debrecen all together as a trainee and as an instructor pilot?

    – I stayed in Hungary for almost seven years – 6 years and 10 months, to be exact. 

    – After the years in Debrecen, how many flight hours did you collect?

    – I am yet to start flying after leaving Debrecen. As of now, I have accumulated close to 1,000 flight hours. 

    – How was the conversion of the EASA CPL to the Indian DGCA CPL?

    – It was the same as converting any other licence to a DGCA licence, so it was not difficult. However, it is very important to understand the exact requirements in terms of flight hours and documentation. I read a lot of documents on the DGCA website to understand the requirements thoroughly. If you want to save time, you may also get in touch with agents in India who assist with licence conversions. 

    – What was the most interesting and funny story of your pilot time here in Debrecen?

    – I used to ferry the aircraft to a maintenance facility at Benesov airfield, which is near Prague, (Czech Republic) for which I usually transit through Budapest, Vienna, (Austria) and Bratislava (Slovak Republic) airspaces. There are usually airliners flying in these airspaces. It was a surreal experience to fly in the middle of airliners through different landscapes.

    – What did you like most during the years that you spent in Hungary and Debrecen?

    – Hungary was the first foreign country I ever visited, so everything was a new experience for me. I really enjoyed learning about a different culture and meeting people from all over the world. It was also my first time seeing snow, and experiencing all four seasons – especially the beautiful winters and pleasant summers – was something I will always remember. Living in Debrecen taught me to be independent and appreciate a peaceful lifestyle. Above all, I am grateful for the lifelong friendships I made during my time there. 

    – What is the next step in your pilot life? – Fortunately, I have secured an airline pilot position, and I am looking forward to this new challenge. Aviation is a profession where continuous learning is essential, and I am excited to study a new aircraft, gain new experiences, and continue growing as a professional pilot. 

  • Indian Student Pilots in Debrecen

    Indian Student Pilots in Debrecen

    In May 2025, a new chapter began in the history of the Pharmaflight Aviation Academy in Debrecen when the first Indian pilot trainees arrived for the institution’s integrated EASA CPL training program. Almost a year has passed since then, and we asked Zoltán Sajtos, the international training director at the Pharmaflight Aviation Academy, about his experiences so far.

    – Where did the idea come from for the academy to launch a commercial pilot training course for Indian applicants?

    – Gyula Győri, chairman of Pharmaflight’s board of directors, pointed out in 2024 that India is experiencing explosive growth in air travel, as the country’s two largest airlines have ordered more than a thousand new aircraft, and India will need approximately twenty thousand new pilots to operate them in the coming years. Pharmaflight Aviation Academy has gained significant experience over the past few years, as it operates as an affiliated aviation engineer department of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Debrecen. To date, more than two hundred students have graduated from the University of Debrecen’s Faculty of Aeronautical Engineering, who, in addition to their B.S. degrees, have obtained a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) approved by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and a type rating for the Airbus A320 aircraft under the auspices of the Pharmaflight Aviation Academy. Over the past eight years, applicants from more than forty countries have come to Debrecen for professional pilot training, enabling the Pharmaflight Aviation Academy to prepare for the arrival of Indian pilot candidates. This was followed by a major marketing effort in India, during which we sought out local professional partners through whom the admissions process was launched. As a result, the first students arrived last May.

    – Through which Indian partners can interested young people from India come to Debrecen?

    – There are several pilot training organizations in India that provide theoretical training for applicants approved by the local aviation authority, the DGCA. In addition, numerous flight schools offer courses, but local training organizations can only meet the sudden surge in interest to a limited extent. That is why they are seeking partners abroad, including in the United States, South Africa, Australia, and now in Europe through Pharmaflight Aviation Academy. I am proud to say that our training organization is a pioneer in the Indian market, where previously students were sent primarily to the United States for FAA training, but India has also realized that the commercial pilot license issued by EASA is currently the most valuable in the industry, as it is accepted by more than seventy airlines in over forty countries worldwide. Thanks to this, and to a media campaign launched in collaboration with local partners, an increasing number of young Indians have decided to pursue an EASA CPL and complete the required training in Debrecen.

    – What requirements must applicants meet?

    – The basic admission requirements are a valid aeromedical certificate, high school graduation exam scores at the required level in mathematics and physics, and a valid passport for travel. Successful applicants will then receive a Hungarian and EU temporary residence permit valid for 18 months, following review and approval by the Migration Office of the Hungarian Ministry of the Interior, which allows them to enter Hungary and begin their flight training.

    – Where are the students who started in Debrecen last June now?

    – All of them have already completed the theoretical training, which is based on the ATP (Air Transport Pilot) curriculum; that is, students in the EASA CPL course study the ATP theoretical subjects across a total of thirteen topics and take exams before their 18-month full training program concludes. In addition, starting in the third month, their practical training begins on the academy’s Tecnam P2008JC single-engine glass-cockpit training aircraft. On these, they first fly with an instructor and performing training patterns and cross country flights; later, when their instrument flight training begins, they switch to the twin-engine Tecnam 2006P, which also features a glass cockpit. Several students in the first group are already at this stage.

    – How many aircraft are there in the Pharmaflight Aviation Academy’s fleet?

    – Currently, three single-engine Tecnam P2008JCs and three twin-engine Tecnam 2006Ps are available to the students, but we just returned from the Aero Expo 2026 exhibition in Friedrichshafen, Germany, where we held advanced negotiations with the Italian manufacturer Tecnam regarding the purchase of three additional Tecnam P2008JC NG next-generation training aircraft. With this, we plan to increase the number of aircraft in the Tecnam fleet to nine by the end of the year. However, the current fleet is sufficient for training Indian pilot candidates, as we maintain the aircraft under a Continuous Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) and perform the necessary maintenance tasks on them. To ensure this runs smoothly, we maintain constant communication not only with our maintenance organizations (MRO) but also with the aircraft manufacturer Tecnam and the engine manufacturer Rotax. With this fleet, we can seamlessly provide training for more than 100 students annually. In addition, other aircraft can be used if necessary.

    – How many Indian students are currently enrolled at the Pharmaflight Academy?

    – Following the first group that arrived last May, additional students from India arrived in November and January, and now a new group—the fourth—is set to arrive in May. This means that nearly fifty students are participating in the training. Most applicants have already completed the DGCA ground school course offered by our partner Indian academies back home, so they arrive in Debrecen with a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge. Most of the Indian applicants will remain in Hungary for a while after obtaining their EASA CPL to accumulate the required flight hours in accordance with the commercial pilot license requirements set by the Indian authorities; there are also those who have enrolled in the flight instructor course to gain even more flight experience—whether at the Pharmaflight Academy or at another flight school, before applying to become a commercial pilot with an airline.

    – Why should Indian and other international applicants apply to the Pharmaflight Aviation Academy in Debrecen if they want to become commercial pilots?

    – As I mentioned, the Pharmaflight Aviation Academy has gained significant professional experience in international pilot training over the past few years. In addition, we have five different level training simulators that allow us to provide instruction from the basics all the way up to the highest level, including MCC (Multi-Crew Cooperation) training, not to mention that the Pharmaflight Pilot Academy has its own Airbus A320 FFS (Full Flight Simulator), on which, following EASA CPL training, an Airbus A320 type rating can be obtained through a five-week course. Another unique feature among training organizations is that our academy has its own EASA-approved aeromedical centre and we also operate an aviation physiology laboratory in house, so students can obtain the Class 1 EASA aeromedical certification required for flight training directly from our institution. In addition, Pharmaflight has developed its own physiological monitoring program called the PHAPA Aviation, which plays a major role in ensuring that, throughout the 18-month training program, trainees remain in the optimal mental and physical condition successfully complete the theoretical course and pass the required regulatory exam, as well as ensuring they are adequately prepared and fit during flight training to perform various flight tasks.