FTE Alumni Spotlights. Featuring: Alex El Khawaja – FTEJerez

The FTEJerez Student Committee is delighted to launch the first in their series of Alumni Spotlights — featuring Alex, now a First Officer with MEA, flying the A320 across the Middle East and Europe for the past four years.

Before joining FTEJerez as an MEA cadet, Alex completed a BSc in Hospitality & Tourism Management followed by a Master’s in Air Transport Management at Cranfield University in the UK. Although he had always dreamed of becoming a pilot, after many years of studying he was considering entering the workforce instead. While working on his thesis in collaboration with MEA, Alex met with the CEO, who encouraged him to keep pursuing his dream of flying. Inspired by their conversation, he applied for — and was accepted into — the MEA Cadet Programme.

Alex began his training at FTEJerez in 2019 and was elected Student Committee President in early 2020. Just one week into his tenure, COVID hit. With campus facing sudden uncertainty, Alex acted quickly in coordination with FTE’s management, creating systems to track and support students both on and off campus.

When students were given the option to return home, Alex chose to remain on campus with over 30 cadets who were unable to leave due to border closures, along with two canteen staff who stayed to support them. Over the course of 72 days, he, along with other committee Student Committee members, helped build many of the Committee initiatives that still exist today, including the development of FTEJerez merchandise, the organisation of campus group chats, the creation and refinement of the Student Logo, the management of the FTEJerez Students Instagram page (including its first reel), the new Solo Certificate design (current), the installation of new speakers for the bar, among many other contributions.

With limited activities available during a strict lockdown on campus, Alex and the remaining students helped the campus community by painting walls, clearing fridges for students who had to leave suddenly, cleaning shared areas, and providing management with daily updates on student whereabouts.

Following graduation — and while waiting for a delayed type-rating date due to COVID — Alex returned to FTEJerez to work in the Operations Department, contributing to a range of projects supporting the school and the student body.

His leadership, commitment, and fast action during an unprecedented period — while laying the foundations of today’s Student Committee — earned him the prestigious Mike Bannister Trophy at FTE’s Graduation (which had not been awarded for the past 6 years), and later the prestigious Glover Trophy Award, by the Honorable Company of Air Pilots in the UK.

We at FTEJerez are extremely proud of Alex’s achievements, and we invite you to read through the interview below to learn more about his journey.

Life before FTEJerez & why did you want to become a pilot?

“If you don’t do it now, you’ll regret it”

I always wanted to fly. While working on my Master’s thesis which involved a collaboration with MEA, the CEO told me, “If you don’t do it now, you’ll regret it one day”. Those words stayed with me, and that’s what kept pushing me to pursue my dream and made me apply to the MEA cadet programme.

Most memorable experience since joining MEA?

“My first time flying a jet with 160 passengers into London Heathrow was a bucket-list moment — one I’ll never forget!”

For me, landing in London Heathrow was always on my bucket, being one of the world’s busiest airports it is such a captivating operation.The views from the approach over the city are not any less impressive!
I also feel proud that I was able to play my part in helping those entering or leaving Lebanon, at a time when we were the only connection to the outside world during difficult circumstances for our country.

How was your experience as President of the FTEJerez Student Committee?

“Never be afraid to push for change, and don’t accept “that’s how we’ve always done it” as an answer.”

It was quite a challenging start, as COVID hit during my very first week. With students suddenly needing to return home at short notice, communication became absolutely essential. I quickly set up online forms, the campus group chats, online live monitors and more which became a central touch point between students and management, ensuring everyone’s whereabouts and needs were clearly communicated each day.

FTEJerez was incredibly supportive throughout this period especially since the recommendation was that we stay in Spain at a time when we didn’t know how long this would continue for. Two dedicated canteen staff members remained on campus to look after the small group of around 30 cadets who stayed, making sure we were well cared for.

During this time, the students who remained worked together to keep campus running smoothly. We used the unexpected downtime to improve shared spaces — from painting walls, to refreshing common areas, to responsibly clearing fridges for those who had to leave in a hurry. It became a genuine example of teamwork between staff and cadets, and a testament to the strong sense of community at FTEJerez.

From my experience as President, the one piece of advice I would give anyone is this: never be afraid to push for change, and don’t accept “that’s how we’ve always done it” as an answer. Some of the improvements I introduced during my tenure weren’t huge on the surface, but they made a meaningful difference because they came from questioning the status quo. That mindset — challenging assumptions, looking for better ways to do things — became one of the most valuable lessons I’ve taken with me, both in leadership and in life.

If you could go back in time in FTEJerez, what would you change?

“I built great friendships with people outside of my own nationality and four of us still meet up twice a year to this day.”

There’s nothing that I would really change. However, I noticed a lot of people had the tendency to stay within their own circle. I would urge everyone to get to know people from other nationalities and backgrounds. Your experience at FTEJerez could be far more enriching if you get to know people outside of your own cohort and it could be stepping stone into great things for your future – both career wise and socially.

Advice for current students

“Build your network now – especially if you are a self sponsored student”

Start networking for your future job now — not when you leave FTEJerez. Your transition to the cockpit begins the moment you arrive here, and FTE’s community gives you opportunities to build connections you might not even realise at the time.

With an amazing careers team, student committee, and a widespread alumni network, FTEJerez offers a hidden support circle from all corners of the aviation industry. Do not be shy to reach out, ask, and connect. Linkedin could always be a great tool too!