Do you know why World Pilots’ Day is celebrated on 26 April each year? Let’s take a look at who came up with the idea of celebrating the fascinating job of pilots and the history behind this day.
Turkey’s first pilot
On this very day in 1912, a young Turkish pilot took his first flight. His name was Fesa Evrensev. This man was born in 1878 in Istanbul, Turkey. After graduating, he decided to pursue a military career. Therefore, he joined the Military Academy and graduated as a Cavalry Lieutenant.
Since his first day in the Academy, it was clear Fesa was destined to fly. He was the best student in the pilot class and passed the final exam with the highest evaluation. Shortly after, Fesa was appointed General Manager of the State Airlines Administration, which then evolved into what we now know as Turkish Airlines. Throughout his career, Fesa held different positions within the Turkish Aeronautical Association, making him one of the most prominent figures in the aviation world.
The history behind World Pilots’ Day
Given the importance of Fesa Evrensev in the history of Turkish aviation, the Turkish Airlines Pilots’ Association was the first to establish the 26th of April as Pilots Day. The aim of those pilots was that of commemorating Fesa’s first flight back in 1912.
An essential role in establishing this day as the world pilots’ day was played by the International Federation of Air Line Pilot’s Association (IFALPA). This association dates back to 1948 when a conference of pilots’ associations was held in London. The conference aimed at providing all pilots in the world with a formal means to interact with the newly established International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). As for now, 104 pilots associations have joined IFALPA, which has come to represent more than 100,000 pilots worldwide.
In 2013, the IFALPA concluded it was high time they found a day to celebrate all these pilots. Therefore, they thought the 26th of April, a day that saw a prominent figure in aviation history taking to the sky for the first time, could be an appropriate solution. The following year, on 26th April 2014, World Pilots Day was celebrated for the first time.
World Pilots’ Day in 2021
This year marks the 8th World Pilots’ Day. Over the last year, pilots worldwide have been facing a tough time, with airlines grounding their planes, others going bankrupt and many others ceasing their operations. In such a dramatic scenario, we hope that all those pilots that this severe turbulence has hit will continue to find the strength to keep their faith in an industry that is bound to undergo profound changes, but that will continue to play a pivotal role in an increasingly globalised and interconnected world.
From all of us at Travel Radar, we wish all pilots a wonderful day, and we thank them for their dedication and professionalism.
Always, Happy Landings!
